Marine ecosystems play a crucial role in supporting humanity by providing food, recreational opportunities, and natural resources. The health of these ecosystems directly correlates with the well-being of human populations, yet there remains a concerning gap in the methods employed to assess their services. Traditional assessments often fail to capture the complexity and dynamic nature of marine ecosystems. As a result, it becomes imperative to refine our approach to evaluating these services comprehensively.

Socrate and his colleagues synthesized a vast array of literature to identify the various frameworks and methodologies currently in use for marine ecosystem service assessments. By performing a systematic review, they not only highlighted existing practices but also pinpointed their effectiveness and potential shortcomings. This rigorous evaluation is particularly timely, as pressures on marine resources continue to escalate due to climate change, overfishing, and pollution.

The review deployed a multifaceted lens to examine the factors influencing the effectiveness of assessment approaches. Key variables such as spatial scale, stakeholder engagement, and data availability were meticulously analyzed. The study