Navigating the Technical Guidance

1. Outcome

This Circular provides readers with a comprehensive navigation guide to the Technical Guidance on Ocean Accounting. Readers will understand how the conceptual framework in TG-0.1 General Introduction to Ocean Accounts maps to specific circulars, identify dependencies between circulars, and find appropriate reading pathways based on their role and interests.

For a personalised route through the guidance—especially if you are new to ocean accounting or are unsure where your work fits—visit the Find the right circular tool, which lets you browse by topic, workflow stage, or a short text description of your task.

2. Requirements

Essential prerequisites:

• TG-0.1 General Introduction to Ocean Accounts—for the conceptual framework and the Ocean Accounts Framework structure

3. Structure Overview

3.1 Stability Classification (Badges)

Each circular carries a stability badge indicating its relationship to underlying standards. The three badges are Core, Applied, and Emerging—full definitions and update triggers are in TG-0.4 Section 3.3. As a quick orientation: Core circulars (e.g. TG-0.1) are updated only when standards are formally revised; Applied circulars (e.g. TG-3.1) follow an annual review cycle; Emerging circulars address topics under active development.

3.2 Version Numbering

Version numbers are recorded in each circular's frontmatter version field (e.g., version: "2.0"). The circular ID format is TG-[Section].[Number] (e.g., TG-0.1). Major version increments reflect substantive content changes; minor increments reflect editorial improvements. Full revision policy is in TG-0.4 Section 6.

4. Edge Mapping: Framework to Circulars

This table maps the 11 accounting relationships (edges) from TG-0.1 Figure 0.1.2 to the circulars that address each relationship. Edges E3, E4, and E11 are bidirectional—reflecting mutual exchanges between the domains they connect:

Abbreviations: FG1 = Focal Group 1: Ocean Economy; FG2 = Focal Group 2: Ocean Society; FG3 = Focal Group 3: Intermediate Ecosystem Services; SG1 = Supporting Group 1: National Accounts (SNA framework); SG2 = Supporting Group 2: Social Conditions; SG3 = Supporting Group 3: Ocean Environment and Ecosystem. Full definitions in TG-0.1 §2.

5. Audience Pathways

Each pathway below is organised into a core reading sequence and optional extensions. The core sequence is the minimum reading required to understand and apply the Technical Guidance for that role. Extensions provide additional depth for practitioners moving beyond initial implementation or working in specific geographic or thematic contexts. Core steps should be read in order; extensions may be taken in any order as needs arise.

For an interactive version that matches circulars to your specific role and workflow stage, use the Find the right circular tool. Ten user archetypes with curated reading sequences. A pathway for Corporate Sustainability practitioners (ESG reporting, TNFD/CSRD disclosure) is under development.

5.1 Policy Executive

Audience: Ministers, senior government officials, heads of agencies

Suggested reading: ~2 hours total

5.2 National Statistician

Audience: NSO compilers, official statisticians building ocean accounts

Suggested reading: NSO compilers building a first ocean account should focus on TG-3.1--3.4 before adding social or thematic modules.

5.3 Ecosystem Analyst

Audience: Technical staff measuring ecosystem assets, condition, and services

Suggested reading: Focus on asset and flow circulars

5.4 Blue Finance Practitioner

Audience: Development banks, fund managers, sovereign debt offices, impact investors

Why this sequence: TG-3.1--3.2 establish the asset and flow accounts; TG-1.9 explains how to translate these into monetary values relevant to finance; TG-1.7--1.8 then show how those values inform multilateral and project-level instruments.

5.5 MSP/MPA Practitioner

Audience: Spatial planners, marine park managers operating at site or EEZ scale, coastal zone managers focused on spatial tools

Suggested reading: Spatially focused, with ecosystem-specific deep dives

5.6 Social Scientist

Audience: Researchers on livelihoods, equity, governance, traditional knowledge

Suggested reading: Social-focused subset

5.7 Implementation Coordinator

Audience: Country project managers, NSO leads, inter-ministerial task force chairs

Suggested reading: Start with readiness assessment, then build outward based on country phase

5.8 Research Frontier

Audience: Academics, methodologists extending ocean accounting state of the art

Suggested reading: Comprehensive; focus on unresolved questions

5.9 Sub-National Planner

Audience: Provincial and municipal planning officers, sub-national resource managers, coastal zone managers operating at local administrative scale

Suggested reading: Sub-national methodology first, then ecosystem methods relevant to local context

5.10 Indigenous and Community Practitioner

Audience: Traditional resource managers, community leaders, Indigenous data custodians, organisations working on Indigenous data sovereignty

Suggested reading: Begin with traditional knowledge integration methods, then governance and rights framing; case studies from Fiji and Vanuatu show Pacific context applications. Not all sections of the technical guidance are equally relevant to community-level practitioners—concentrate on the circulars named above.

6. Dependency Graph

The prerequisite structure of the Technical Guidance follows three main chains:

Foundation chain: TG-0.1 → TG-0.2 → TG-0.5 (this circular); TG-0.1 is the universal entry point.

Accounts compilation chain: TG-0.1 + TG-0.2 → TG-3.1 Assets → TG-3.2 Flows env→econ → TG-3.3 Economic activity → TG-3.4 Flows econ→env. TG-3.5 to TG-3.8 extend from this core.

Decision-making chain: TG-0.1 → Section 1 circulars (independently accessible once TG-0.1 is read); Section 2 indicators typically require TG-3.1 for context.

Data methods chain: Section 4 circulars support Section 3 compilation; they can be read in parallel with or after TG-3.x.

Case study and thematic methods: Section 5 case studies and Section 6 thematic methods draw on Sections 3 and 4; they are best read after completing the relevant compilation circulars.

Key standalone circulars: TG-0.7 Quality Assurance and TG-0.8 Implementation Readiness may be read independently at any stage. (A diagram.js visual representation of these dependencies is planned for a future version.)

7. Quick Reference: All Circulars

Section 0: Concepts, Definitions and Front Matter

Section 1: Using Ocean Accounts in Decision-Making

Section 2: Indicators

Section 3: Accounts Compilation

Section 4: Data Methods

Section 5: Geographic and Thematic Case Studies

Note: TG-5.12 is reserved and not yet assigned.

Section 6: Thematic Methods

8. Cross-Cutting Themes

Some topics span multiple sections and are addressed as "threads" rather than standalone circulars:

Traversed by (monetary valuation): Blue Finance (5.4), Ecosystem Analyst (5.3), National Statistician (5.2) Traversed by (traditional knowledge): Indigenous and Community Practitioner (5.10), Social Scientist (5.6)

9. Acknowledgements

Authors: [To be confirmed]

Reviewers: [To be confirmed]