Dr Cornelius Hammer has been elected as the new president of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES,) for a three-year term, replacing outgoing president Paul Connolly.
Dr Hammer is deputy president of the Thünen Institute in Germany and was ICES’ first vice-president and German delegate to the organisation.
His research interests include the swimming physiology of fish, bioenergetics of fish, fishery management and alternative management approaches, and recruitment of fish stocks.
“During my time as president, ICES will increase its focus on integrated ecosystem assessments and the supporting data and has thus started to create a scientific foundation for the implementation of the ecosystem based approach. All this work will be reflected in ICES delivering more integrated scientific advice,” said Dr Hammer.
“It is important for us to develop our other priority areas such as the Arctic and aquaculture – presenting our state-of-the-art science, highlighting where we can add value, and holding discussions with stakeholders to listen to their needs and wishes.”
Alongside the presidential appointment, Danish delegate to ICES Fritz Köster was elected as first vice-president to replace Dr Hammer, whilst US delegate Bill Karp was elected as a vice-president, replacing Piotr Margonski.
Other developments at the Council meeting included the decision for the Council Steering Group on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) to include broader ecosystem approach considerations, and the creation of a Council Strategic Initiative on Transatlantic Cooperation to work amongst other things with the Transatlantic Ocean Research Alliance. A roadmap for ICES Arctic work and the incorporation of the outputs from the Aquaculture Dialogue Meeting into the work of the expert groups were also agreed upon.
