The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) is working to advance the integrated scientific understanding of marine ecosystems as part of its new Strategic Plan.
Over the next five years, ICES will provide advice on the sustainable use and protection of marine ecosystems, as agreed at the annual ICES Council meeting last week.
“ICES is well known for providing evidence-based advice on fishery management. However, there is a need for science and advice to go beyond traditional assessments of the status of fish stocks,” said Paul Connolly, president, ICES.
The plan will be implemented through four coordinated action plans related to science, advice, data and information, and the ICES Secretariat, all of which will be finalised in February 2014.
“The new ICES Strategic Plan commits to building a foundation of science that depends on improving our understanding of marine ecosystems, and producing integrated advice needed by decision-makers that is based on timely and accurate data and information,” he added.
The ICES Council of delegates, representing the organisation’s 20 member countries, also decided to further support the transition towards integrated ecosystem understanding by setting up a Science Fund.
A request for research proposals to be supported by this fund will be announced next month, and further information will soon be made available on the ICES website.
