ICES Annual Science Conference (31/01/2012)

The online system for submission of abstracts for the 2012 ICES Annual Science Conference (ASC) has now opened. The deadline is Friday 20 April.

Changing captains (27/01/2012)

ICES President Michael Sinclair, ICES Delegates, ambassadors from ICES member states, and Secretariat staff, past and present, gathered for a special reception held at ICES Secretariat today, 27 January.
Guests came to bid farewell to outgoing General Secretary Gerd Hubold, who comes to the end of his six year term at the end of January,  and to welcome incoming General Secretary Anne Christine Brusendorff, who takes up her new post on 1 February.

Speeches from Michael Sinclair, Adi Kellerman, Head of Science, Hans Lassen, former Head of Advice, Paul Connolly, ACOM ICES First Vice-President, and Rolf Åkesson, Swedish Delegate, recollected Hubold’s contribution to the organization over the past six years. Hubold welcomed his successor, wishing Brusendorff and ICES good fortune for the future.

CIESM launches new online forum (23/01/2011)

The Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) has launched an online forum within the MARCOM+ project.
It opens dialogue on the following two issues in fisheries and blue biotechnology:
• Blue Biotech: help research, stop bio piracy;
• The future of fishing is not a joke – could it be a video game?

Read more: http://www.ciesmseaforum.org

Vacancy in ICES (23/01/2012)

Vacancy for an “ecosystem integrated advice” Professional Officer in ICES - read more.

Director positions available at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (10/11/2012)

The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) is a research centre and a museum of natural history. The RBINS is reorganizing and therefore hiring 4 positions for Directors of Taxonomy and Phylogeny; Natural Environments; Earth and the History of Life; Publics. Read more.

Tenure track positions available at SoMAS (10/01/2012)

Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) invites applications for three tenure track positions, one in Atmospheric Sciences, one in Physical Oceanography, and one in Fisheries Ecology, to begin as early as Fall 2012. Read More.

JRC Course "Introduction to R and FLR for fisheries" (24/11/11)

FISHREG Action of the IPSC's Maritime Affairs Unit of the EC Joint Research Centre is organizing two courses on "Introduction to R and FLR for fisheries".

The target audience are students, fisheries biologists and stock assessment scientists with none or very low knowledge of R. The objective of the course is to promote numerical analysis of fisheries data with R (http://r-project.org) and FLR (http://flr-project.org), and level up the knowledge of the attendees, setting a good background for follow up training initiatives on stock assessment, e.g. ICES course on introduction to stock assessment. The instructors are JRC researchers Ernesto Jardim, Iago Mosqueira and Giacomo Chato Osio.

The courses will take place on the 10-12th of January and the 3rd-5th of July, at the Palace Hotel, Varese, Italy. The courses don't have a registration fee, but the attendees will have to cover their own travelling and accommodation expenses. The hotel offers special fees of 75 Euros per night, please refer to the JRC R/FLR course when booking. JRC covers the expenses related with the organisation of the course (room, technical equipment, coffee breaks and the transfer from Malpensa Airport to Varese). The course will have a maximum of 15 attendees. A registration is mandatory and the selection criteria will be on a 'first come first served' basis.

To register:
1) Go to https://jrc-meeting-registration.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ and create your user account (all data is protected)
2) Follow this link
3) Scroll down to accept the Events Registration Statement and register

Course program:
day 01 morning - 'Introduction to R',
day 01 afternoon - 'Working with R',
day 02 morning - 'Writing functions',
day 02 afternoon - 'Working with your own data',
day 03 morning - 'Introduction to FLR',
day 03 afternoon - 'Exploring data with FLR'.

Professor Mário Ruivo Prize Seas and Us - Links between Ocean and Daily Life Activities Movie Contest (10/11/11)

Are there any budding student movie-makers out there? If so, you should check out the movie making contest that EurOcean are running right now. 

Make a Movie, do a documentary, interview people or simply tell a story, the OCEAN is the limit! If you want to come on board of this great adventure sign yourself up and your friends in the Mário Ruivo Prize Movie Contest.

The “Professor Mário Ruivo Prize” will award an original Movie, made by students on the theme: Seas and Us - Links between Ocean and Daily Life Activities. For that, you and your friends must be students between the ages of 12 and 21 who have produced a Movie using this theme. Please follow the link below on how to proceed.

EurOcean, in its role of promoting marine science and technologies in Europe, launches this prize which aims to raise public awareness on the relevance of the Oceans for society.

The Prize is named after "Professor Mário Ruivo" as a tribute to the first President of EurOcean and as recognition of his work as a pioneer in the field of marine sciences and research at the national, European, and international level.

Application Criteria
When applying to the Movie Contest please be sure you understand and agree with Rules and Regulations of the Prize:

For Entry Forms and Submission Information please access this site.

New ICES Vice-Presidents (03/11/11)

At ICES 99th Statutory Meeting last week, four new Vice-Presidents were elected by Council: Tore Nepstad (Norway), Carmela Porteiro (Spain), Fritz Köster (Denmark), and Fredric Serchuk (USA). Welcome to the new Vice-Presidents who become members of ICES Bureau, ICES Executive Committee.

ASC 2011 (26/10/11)

Papers presented at ASC and meeting documents can be found here.

New ICES Identification Leaflets for Diseases and Parasites of Fish and Shellfish (26/10/11)

The following Disease Leaflets have now been updated and are available online.

ILD No. 30 - Dermo disease of oysters caused by Perkinsus marinus. View IDL No. 30

ILD No. 38 - MSX disease of oysters caused by Haplosporidium nelsoni. View IDL No. 38

ILD No. 39 - SSO disease of oysters caused by Haplosporidium costale. View IDL No. 39

ILD No. 57 - Roseovarius Oyster Disease (ROD) caused by Roseovarius crassostreae. 2011. View No. 57

ICES Annual Science Conference 2012 (21/10/11)

The 2012 ICES Annual Science Conference website has now opened www.ices.dk/asc2012 .  Information about the 2012 Theme sessions will be posted here in November.

A royal visit (17/10/11)

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden visited ICES Secretariat on Monday 17 October. Click here to read more and see more pictures.

Oceans of Change Early Career Scientists Conference (ECSC) is open for abstract submission (12/10/2011)
ECSC will broadly address the interactions among the physics, chemistry, and biology of the world’s oceans in the context of a dynamic system.
Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of human activities on ocean processes, the future of ecological and economic ocean services, and management implications. The conference will be held 24–27 April 2012, Majorca, Spain. More information about the sessions, venue, and registration can be found on the conference website. The deadline for abstract submission and applications for financial assistance is 31 October 2011.

Did you miss out on the news durings ASC? (11/10/11)

PostDoc/Scientist − Modelling Fisheries As Coupled Social-Ecological System- Germany (07/10/2011)

The Inland Fisheries Management Laboratory at Humboldt-University of Berlin (Germany) and the Inter- and Transdisciplinary Young Investigator Group Besatzfisch (Stocked Fish Project) (www.besatz-fisch.de, see also www.adaptfish.igb-berlin.de) in the Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes at IGB invite applications for a two-year position (starting date January, 1, 2012) Click here to read the announcement.

Faculty position: Canada Research Chair in Quantitative Fisheries Science and Management (04/10/2011)

This is a tenure-track Associate (senior level) or Full Professor in the Graduate School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada). Burnaby is a suburb of Vancouver, which is rated one of the top 5 cities of the world in which to live. A scientist is needed with a strong quantitative background in fisheries science and management, simulation modelling, and statistics, and with demonstrated applied accomplishments in aquatic conservation and/or fisheries management. See the full advertisement here.

Benoît Mesnil 1949–2011 (03/10/11)

On August 31, 2011, Benoît Mesnil passed away after a devastating illness. He was 62 year old, father of three and grandfather of two.

Benoît started his carrier at Ifremer in 1973, working on biology and population dynamics of cephalopods (La Rochelle and then Saint Pierre et Miquelon laboratories). Back in Boulogne sur Mer, he turned to the study of the dynamics of English Channel nurseries, using indicators based on groundfish surveys, and to the assessment of various fisheries (saithe, industrial fisheries, etc.). He was attracted by quantitative approaches and was a pioneer in the field. He was an active participant in various ICES working groups and contributed to the improvement of methods and models used by these groups and their dissemination among colleagues.

From 1984 onwards, Benoît worked alternately in La Rochelle and Nantes Ifremer laboratories. He contributed actively to the development of innovative approaches and models to analyze technical interactions in mixed fisheries.

He was a pillar of various working groups, particularly the “VII and VIII WG”, which he chaired. His great knowledge of French and European fisheries allowed him to participate in multidisciplinary programs involving biologists and economists.

After 1998, Benoît continued to develop methodological approaches (stock assessment models, indicators, etc.), while maintaining a critical eye on the evolution of the European fishery sector. His recent article on public aid to French fisheries bears witness to his deep knowledge of the fishery sector and its various actors.

On the international scene, Benoît played an important operational role and contributed to various Europeans projects. He was deeply involved in ICES work as a member of the Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM) from 1986 to 1998, and was an active member or Chair of numerous working groups, including among others North Sea Flatfish Working Group, Study Group on Squid Biology, Industrial Fisheries Working Group, Saithe (Coalfish) Working Group (Chair), Working Group on Methods of Fish Stock Assessment, Multispecies Assessment Working Group, Assessment of Working Group on the Assessment of Southern Shelf Demersal Stocks (Chair), Workshop on Implementing the ICES Fmsy Framework (WKFRAME-2). His legacy to our community is very rich.

Benoît was a man of firm belief, with a great professional experience and integrity. He was also well known for his freedom of word and his critical analysis of the European fishery world. His presence, participation, and contribution were much appreciated. For many of us, he was a close colleague and friend with a warm personality. Benoit was a person we could always rely on whenever we needed help. His judgments and wisdom as well as his advice on scientific issues were always well thought out and helpful. Benoit was also a man of culture, knowledgeable and always ready to explore new corners, places, and events. All of these endeavours leave us with many wonderful memories of Benoit, and we will cherish them for a very long time.

He will be greatly missed by the entire ICES community.

—André Forest

6th World Fisheries Congress – Edinburgh, Scotland, 7–11 May 2012 (30/09/2011)

The World Council of Fisheries Societies aims to promote international cooperation in fisheries science, conservation and management by encouraging and promoting sustainable management practices, excellence in fisheries research and the wise use of fishery resources. One important way in which the Council seeks to achieve these ends is through the organization of a major World Fisheries Congress every 4 years. For 2012, the 6th Congress moves to Europe, where it will be held in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland, hosted by the Fisheries Society of the British Isles. Read more here.

General Secretary elect named (27/09/11)
Anne Christine Brusendorff has been named General Secretary elect of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). ICES General Secretary Gerd Hubold made the announcement at the Closing Session of ICES Annual Science Conference 2011 in Gdańsk, Poland. Brusendorff, whose term starts 1 February 2012, is currently Executive Secretary of HELCOM (Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission). Hubold, who is completing his six-year term, noted that she will be the first woman in ICES 109-year history to hold that position.

Ecosystem modeller vacancies at Cefas (27/09/2011)
Cefas is now accepting applications for ecosystem modellers. Click here for more information.

International Marine Phytoplankton Taxonomy Workshop (13/09/2011)

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) and The Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS) are jointly running the 2nd International Marine Phytoplankton Taxonomy Workshop.  The course will be held from 2 – 13 July 2012 in the city of Plymouth, UK.
The workshop is aimed at all those working in the marine phytoplankton field and participants will be expected to have a basic knowledge of microalgae.  This will be an interactive workshop which will cover classification & taxonomy of the major marine microalgal groups.  In addition, there will be a substantial practical element which will encompass a range of Methodologies & Techniques including: Sampling, Settling & Slide Preparation, Cell Counting, Isolation, Microscopy & Culturing. For more information, visit: www.mba.ac.uk/phytoplankton-workshop

Introducing the new ICES Spatial Facility (01/09/2011)

To support area based science and marine spatial planning, ICES in cooperation with STZ Geoinformatik has implemented the ICES Spatial Facility web system. The system is both for the ICES community, and the wider public. The ICES Spatial Facility enables ICES Expert Groups and others to upload and share their spatial data products and metadata descriptions. The front page of the system allows quick access to the most commonly used reference layers, such as the ‘ICES Statistical Areas’ and ‘ICES Statistical Rectangles’. The system includes services such as web map services (WMS), web feature services (WFS) and catalogue web services (CWS) allowing easy access to spatial resources and metadata from client applications.

The ICES platform is built on the open source structures GeoServer and GeoNetwork and uses standards generally adopted by the user community and also in line with the INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC),  for the sharing of spatial datasets and metadata.

The facility includes upload functionality, search capabilities as well as an online viewer for the spatial datasets. The ICES Spatial Facility can be accessed here.

Three Fisheries Scientist positions (29/08/2011)

The new Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research (CFER) at the Fisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada) is seeking three FISHERIES SCIENTISTS.  The closing date for all three positions is SEPTEMBER 2, 2011.  Click here for details on the three positions. For a description of CFER, see http://www.mi.mun.ca/centre-for-fisheries-ecosystems-research/ 

Call for PhD Project Positions in the Future Ocean (01/08/2011)

Planet Under Pressure 2012: Call for abstracts (05/07/2011)

Abstract submission is now open for the 2012 Planet Under Pressure conference, taking place in London, UK, 26-29 March 2012. The conference will provide a comprehensive update of the pressure planet Earth is now under and discuss solutions at all scales to move societies on to a sustainable pathway. For more information, visit the conference website: http://www.planetunderpressure2012.net/

ICES  releases advice on Bay of Biscay, Celtic Sea, and North Sea fish stocks(29/06/2011)

ICES advice on Bay of Biscay, Celtic Sea, and North Sea fish stocks is now available here.

ASC 2011 programme now available(29/06/2011)

19 Theme Sessions to choose from! ASC 2011 programme is now available on our website: http://www.ices.dk/iceswork/asc/2011/programme.asp.

Post-doctoral Fellowships – DFO, St John’s Newfoundland (17/06/2011)

The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans has two new post-doctoral fellowships to announce under its International Governance Strategy funding. Read more here.

The Oceans of Change Early Career Scientists Conference (ECSC), April 24-27 2012, is now open for abstract submission (01/06/2011)

ECSC will broadly address the interactions among the physics, chemistry, and biology of the world’s oceans in the context of a dynamic system. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of human activities on ocean processes, the future of ecological and economic ocean services, and management implications. Contributions should address one of the sessions displayed on the conference website: P/ICES Conference for Early Career Marine Scientists

Data Centres exchange knowledge in Copenhagen (31/05/2011)

Staff from Data Centres at ICES and the Institute of Marine Research (IMR; Norway) met for a knowledge exchange on Friday 27 May, at
ICES Secretariat in Copenhagen. During the full day meeting, staff from both organizations took turns presenting their work as a basis for discussing concrete and practical issues in data management, such as the latest developments in spatial data viewing and access, the use of external standards and the synergies to be gained from sharing technologies and solutions.

ICES releases advice on Baltic fish stocks and North Sea herring (27/05/2011)

ICES advice for Baltic fish stocks and North Sea herring is now available here.

Call for ASC 2012 theme session proposals (26/05/2011)

The deadline for submitting theme session proposals for the ASC 2012 to be held in Bergen, Norway, is Monday, 5 September 2011.

Theme Session proposals should be sent to this email, using this template.

Theme session proposals emanating from SCICOM Steering Group meetings or ACOM consultations held during the ASC will be considered provided the proposals are submitted by the end of Wednesday, 21 September. Theme Session proposers are encouraged to link their proposals to one of the five ICES SCICOM Steering Groups or to ICES ACOM, to ensure that their objectives address the priorities in the ICES Science Plan. The final package of Theme Sessions for the ASC 2012 will be approved by SCICOM in late September this year.

Proposals submitted in 2010 will not be considered, unless they are resubmitted.

Book your hotel for the ASC soon! (24/05/2011)

ICES Secretariat recommends to book your hotel room for the ASC 2011 in Gdansk as soon as possible. Due to another big-scale symposium being organised in Gdansk at the same time with the ASC, chances of finding a hotel room later in the summer are very low. Please visit the ASC hotel booking site to reserve your room today: http://www.reservation-ices.com/.

YOUMARES 2011 2.0 (24/05/2011)

The second Young Marine Research (YOUMARES) network-meeting “Oceans amidst science, innovation and society” takes place in Bremerhaven, Germany, 7-9 September 2011. The conference is organized by the Working Group Studies and Education of the German Society for Marine Research (DGM). YOUMARES 2011 provides a platform for young students and scientists of marine research to present their work and themselves to other student and colleagues. For more information, visit the conference website: http://www.youmares.net/en.html

ACOM Vice-Chair awarded Medal of Honour (19/05/2011)

SCICOM met in Copenhagen (10/05/2011)
The 2011 spring meeting of ICES Science Committee (SCICOM) took place on 3–5 May at the regional headquarters of the World Health Organization in Copenhagen. The meeting provided crucial guidance to the Chair of SCICOM and to ICES Secretariat for the months ahead. Click here to read a report by SCICOM Chair Manuel Barange, summarizing the main issues discussed and decisions taken.

NEW ICES Inside Out (06/05/2011)

The latest issue of ICES Inside Out is ready to download here.

ICES releases advice on North Atlantic Salmon (06/05/11)

ICES advice for North Atlantic Salmon is now available here.

Students learn about ICES work in the Baltic (04/05/11)

12 high school students from Denmark, Germany, and Sweden, visited the ICES Secretariat on Tuesday, 3 May. They are working on an international project "From Knowledge to Action" about sustainable development around the Baltic Sea. They met with Advisory Programme Professional Secretaries Claus Hagebro and Henrik Sparholt to learn more about the state of the fish stocks, as well as the environment in the Baltic Sea area. Afterwards, the students had many questions, for example about the effects of climate change and marine litter.

The North-Western Working Group, currently Chaired by Gudmundur Thordarson, Iceland, celebrated 50 years as a working group with a small reception at the ICES Secretariat on Monday, 2 May. General Secretary, Gerd Hubold and ACOM Chair and former member of NWWG, JJ Maguire were on hand to congratulate the group. The NWWG first met in 1961 with Ray Beverton as Convenor and were tasked to report on the fisheries of Iceland, East Greenland, and Faroes area.

ICES Training Course: Approaches to the Integrated Assessment of Status and Trends in Marine Ecosystems (06/04/11)

The ICES Training Programme is pleased to announce the training course ” Approaches to the Integrated Assessment of Status and Trends in Marine Ecosystems” to be held 17-19 October 2011 at ICES Secretariat in Copenhagen. Deadline for registration is 3 September 2011. Read more details about the course here. For more information about ICES Training Programme visit the Training web page.

German students visit ICES (25/03/11)

A group of 27 students from Ravensburg University (Germany) visited the ICES Secretariat on March 25 to learn more about the organization.

The students, many of whom already have a background in communications and advertising, were particularly interested in the problems faced by a not-for-profit organization in communicating its message. A lively discussion developed on how ICES can best promote its work and make itself more visible to the general public. Several of the students expressed an interest in taking up this question in their courses at home and possibly contributing ideas to ICES communications activities. They expressed a particular interest in ICES first steps in the world of social media.

2nd ICES/PICES Conference for Early Career Scientists: Oceans of Change (24/03/11)

ICES and PICES (the North Pacific Marine Science Organization) are proud to announce the 2nd Conference for Early Career Scientists, Oceans of Change, taking place in Calvià, Majorca Island, Spain, 24–27 April 2012. The Oceans of Change Conference will broadly address the interactions among the physics, chemistry, and biology of the world’s oceans in the context of a dynamic system. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of human activities on ocean processes, the future of ecological and economic ocean services, and management implications. Visit the Conference website for more information.

New ACOM Vice-Chair (08/03/11)

ICES is pleased to announce the appointment of Han Lindeboom (the Netherlands) as the new Vice-Chair of the Advisory Committee (ACOM), ecosystem portfolio.

Han wrote his PhD on marine microbiology and has, in the course of time, evolved into a marine ecologist with a wide interest in marine nature and its uses. Currently, he serves as a member of the board of directors of IMARES (Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies), Wageningen UR, the Netherlands, responsible for all science-related aspects of IMARES, as well as a Professor in Marine Ecology at Wageningen University Department of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality. Han has wide experience and record of publication within marine ecology and human impacts on marine ecosystems.
ICES welcomes Han to the ACOM leadership team.

ICES Training Course: Trawl Survey Design and Evaluation (03/03/11)

The ICES Training Programme is pleased to announce the training course ”Trawl Survey Design and Evaluation” to be held 10-14 October 2011 at ICES Secretariat in Copenhagen. Deadline for registration is 26 August 2011. Read more details about the course here. For more information about ICES Training Programme visit the Training web page.

ICES Bureau met in Copenhagen (28/02/11)

ICES Bureau, the executive committee of the ICES Council, met at the ICES Headquarters in Copenhagen on 23–24 February. The focus of the meeting was predominantly on the review of the workplans for the Secretariat, ACOM, and SCICOM, to ensure that key issues and priorities are being addressed in a timely manner. In addition, there was a focus on ICES strategic partnerships with other international organizations, e.g. HELCOM, OSPAR, FAO and CIESM. The complex extant policies for observers and participants were reviewed, with the intent of simplifying the overall policy and ensure transparency of ICES aggregate activities.
The day after the Bureau meeting a small ICES team met with several leaders of HELCOM to discuss enhanced cooperation between the two organizations, in order to address effectively the joint overlapping mandates in support of Baltic Sea multiple use management issues. The meeting was very timely and productive.

ICES releases advice on sandeel (21/02/11)

ICES advice for sandeel in the North Sea is now available here.

ICES hosts meeting on Marine Biodiversity (15/02/11)

Representatives of national, regional, and global organizations with responsibility for the implementation of biodiversity policy met with biodiversity scientists and scientific advisors to help identify where ICES might best help their science and advice clients fulfil their biodiversity obligations. The Workshop on Marine Biodiversity (WKMARBIO) concluded that ICES should make a more significant contribution to marine biodiversity science and advice.
Actions to improve accessibility and quality control of biodiversity data, the selection and application of indicators and reference points, understanding of activity-pressure-state relationships and the strategic science programme were recommended. The meeting was held at ICES Headquarters 9–11 February and was chaired by Mark Tasker (UK) and Simon Jennings (UK).

Third FIMPAS workshop held in Den Helder (10/02/11)

World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2011 (09/02/11)

The World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2011 takes place in Aberdeen, Scotland, 26-30 September 2011. Visit the conference website for more information.

Interview with Poul Degnbol, Head of ICES Advisory, by Research Media Ltd (07/01/11)

Poul Degnbol, Head of ICES Advisory Programme, outlines the work of ICES and the role that it can play in advising the fishery industry and international governments on developing sustainable policies in the future. Read the interview at Research Media Ltd website.
Read also an earlier interview with Poul Degnbol at CFP-reformwatch.EU.

2011 Annual Science Conference (22/12/10)

The 2011 Annual Science Conference website has now opened. More information will be available during the next months.

FIMPAS economist workshop (15/12/2010)

An economist workshop on the patterns of fishery activities in the Dutch part of the North Sea took place at ICES in Copenhagen on 6-7 December 2010. Fishing efforts, catches, prices, and other economic data for the Netherlands as well as the United Kingdom and Germany were evaluated and economic consequences of the regulation proposals were discussed. The results will be presented at the third FIMPAS workshop on 24-26 January 2011.

Now live: EcoSystemData 2.0! (13/12/10)

The ICES data portal EcoSystemData v2.0 is now live with a host of new features. The significant improvements are: An understandable, simple and large Map facility; Map legends, as well as ICES, OSPAR and HELCOM map overlays; Enhanced inventory with taxonomic breakdown, and; A new dataset: Stomach contents.
All of this is online, visit the data portal at http://ecosystemdata.ices.dk.

ACOM met in Copenhagen (22/11/10)

The ICES Advisory Committee (ACOM) deals with scientific advice regarding marine management including environmental management and fisheries. The ACOM met 16-19 November at the ICES Secretariat in Copenhagen to discuss how ICES in 2011 will continue to respond to the needs of bodies in charge of marine management including fisheries commissions and environmental commissions. The workplan for ICES advice in 2011 was finalized. This included the terms of reference and timing for the approximately 50 expert groups which will meet to develop the scientific basis for advice during the year, including a range of workshops, which are open to stakeholders. The meeting calendar for 2011 is available here.
This was the last ACOM meeting for the outgoing ACOM Chair Mike Sissenwine as well as ACOM Vice-Chair Mark Tasker. The incoming ACOM Chair, JJ Maguire, also attended the meeting. His 3-year term will start 1 January 2011. New ACOM Vice-Chair will be announced later.

New ACOM Chair (19/11/10)

ICES is pleased to announce the appointment of Jean-Jacques “JJ” Maguire from Canada as the new Chair of the Advisory Committee (ACOM), replacing outgoing Chair Michael Sissenwine. JJ will begin his 3-year term as the ACOM Chair in January 2011.
JJ has extensive experience providing neutral scientific advice for fishery management in national and international scientific and management processes. He is a familiar face in ICES, first as a member of the Working Group on Methods of Fish Stock Assessments (WGMG), then in the ICES Advisory Committee on Fisheries Management (ACFM) from 1989 to 1999, which he chaired from 1996 to 1999. He is also a regular participant at the Annual Science Conference. 
We at ICES welcome JJ and extend thanks to Mike for his hard work as ACOM Chair.

2011 ICES meeting calendar now available (02/11/10)

The 2011 ICES meeting calendar is now available on the ICES website. The calendar will be updated throughout the new year, so check back often.

ICES/NASCO Symposium (26/10/10)
Call for papers is now out for the ICES/NASCO Symposium on 'Salmon at Sea: Scientific Advances and their Implications for Management' to be held in La Rochelle, France, from 11–13 October 2011.

FIMPAS (07/10/10)

The FIMPAS (FIsheries Measures in Protected AreaS) project is on the development of a proposal for fisheries measures in three designated areas in the Dutch EEZ in the North Sea. This proposal shall be consistent with conservation objectives and the end product is ICES advice on the appropriateness of this proposal.  The FIMPAS project brings stakeholders and scientists together to develop this regulatory proposal. Paul Connolly (Ireland) chairs the workshops. So far FIMPAS has organised two workshop (on data availability and on conflict analysis). The last of three workshops is on formulating the proposal for fisheries measures in three designated areas. This workshop will take place at the Grand Hotel Beatrix in Den Helder, the Netherlands, 24-26 January 2011. At this workshop the results of biological and socio-economic considerations will be presented  and the workshop will discuss a proposal for management measures and their socio-economic consequences. Please direct inquiries to Diane Lindemann.