The MSP Index is a flexible tool for assessing progress in MSP processes based on foundational MSP principles, including:

• Ecosystem-based – balancing ecological, economic, and social goals and objectives for sustainable development
• Integrated – coordinated across sectors and agencies, and among levels of government
• Place-based – rooted in spatial context, employing spatial and non-spatial management tools
• Adaptive – capable of learning and changing based on experience
• Strategic – focused on MSP in the long-term and achieving desired outcomes
• Participatory – stakeholders and rightsholder are actively involved in the process

The MSP Index is a user-friendly tool that helps to translates MSP principles into practice. By using the MSP Index, ocean practitioners and research can better understand the extent to which MSP initiatives reflect international and scientific best practices.

For each principle, the MSP Index identifies six key features. Each feature is described by a criteria statement that is based on fundamental MSP guidance, as well as select scientific literature.

The MSP Index uses these criteria statements as the basis for its scoring guide, where each feature is scored from zero to three points based on the inclusion of criteria in MSP initiatives.

The MSP Index allows for assessment of individual MSP initiatives and comparison of diverse initiatives across ocean regions and nations. It can help to align initiatives with principles, highlight successes and gaps, and provide information to decision-makers, like areas for capacity or resource investment, strategic prioritization of features based on management needs, potential operational risks, or systemic barriers to MSP.

To learn more about the MSP Index and how it was made, you can access its publication in npj Ocean Sustainability: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-023-00022-w