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Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management 14(3) (2026) 423--440 | DOI:10.5890/JEAM.2026.09.004

Adeyemi Adebayo$^1$, Barry Ackers$^{1}$, Audrey Legodi$^{1}$, Chikutuma Chisinga$^{2}$, Mfon Akpan$^{3}$

$^1$ Department of Auditing, University of South Africa, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

$^{2}$ Department of Financial Accounting, University of South Africa, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

$^{3}$ Department of Accounting and Financial Economics, Northeastern State University, 600 N Grand Ave, Tahlequah, OK 74464, USA

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Abstract

Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14; life below water) is one of the most important SDGs, given its focus on global research convergence and attention. Despite the extensive research convergence and outputs, it is surprising that accounting journals have not been part of the publication outlets of these extensive research convergence and outputs (acknowledging that accounting scholars have contributed to ocean/marine accounting research in other journals). In this context, we conceptualized a research agenda for ocean accounting in accounting journals by evaluating the current accounting and assurance measures for underground waste injection. In particular, we revisit the call to focus on the underground injection of waste as not only a financial accountability issue but also a social and environmental accountability issue. Thus, focusing on how accounting scholars and journals may contribute to accounting for and assuring underground waste injection as part of ocean accounting. The researchers describe the current accounting system for underground waste injection in the United States, exploring issues and potential improvements. Although the financial accounting and assurance measures make sense, they do not consider qualitative socioenvironmental management elements of safety and biodiversity protection. We detail how these may be incorporated into the current accounting methods, outline the implications of this study for policy, practice, and research, and conclude by providing avenues for further research.

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