Assessing and improving social equity in marine conservation: background, methods and guidance on three approaches

Social equity is increasingly recognised as a fundamental principle in marine conservation. Global conservation policies now contain commitments to equitable management and governance, yet practical guidance on how to understand and assess equity in marine conservation remains limited. In this methodological paper, we introduce our process for developing three conceptually grounded, practical and adaptable approaches for assessing equity in marine conservation: (1) a rapid equity assessment, (2) a stakeholders and rightsholders equity assessment, and (3) a co-produced and customised equity assessment. All three approaches emphasise the assessment process as part of an ongoing learning journey that requires continuous reflection and adaptive actions to improve social equity. The discussion identifies practical lessons and key considerations for choosing, preparing and carrying out…