Integrating equity and justice in marine ecosystem models: An incremental but meaningful approach

The notion of equity is a complex and multifaceted one, and it can be difficult to operationalize in a meaningful way. Nevertheless, the importance of integrating equity and justice concerns in environmental management is quickly being recognized across disciplines, including ocean sciences that have long engaged with complex dynamic systems. Ecosystem modelling approaches can be particularly helpful given their ability to incorporate a wide range of concepts, information, and management goals. However, including social equity in ecosystem models is perceived as a difficult task and most marine ecosystem models still mainly focus on fish stock and ecological dynamics and outcomes, ignoring social impacts, which risks losing opportunities to help improve the lives of fisherfolk and identify meaningful solutions. Here, we propose ways to integrate equity in ecosystem models at three different levels. From more to less demanding, we can: (1) explicitly model equity, (2) slightly adjust existing models to incorporate key human components, and (3) ask new questions with existing models. As we move along these steppingstones, we must listen and learn from community partners and social scientists on what data are needed, how to handle ‘unconventional’ data types, and what indicators are most useful. To do so, we invite other modellers to start thinking differently, dare to ask different questions, and bring knowledge together so that our ecosystem models better represent the realities we see.