"Much more needs to be done to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and create improved conditions for the sustainable development of the ocean, seas, and coasts."
In 2017, the UN declared that the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021–2030 "will provide a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to create a new foundation, across the science-policy interface, to strengthen the management of our oceans and coasts for the benefit of humanity".
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO is spearheading the Decade's coordination. Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of the IOC, has said, "What I can state already with great pleasure is that ICES is very interested in participating in the decade but not only participating...ICES must be driving...ICES has a strong leadership role in several important areas of science. Among these, I would highlight your ecosystem science"
In 2019, Ryabinin and co-authors published a paper outlining six societal goals that the Ocean Decade should strive to achieve.
ICES has more than 150 expert groups that work towards advancing and sharing scientific understanding of marine ecosystems and the services they provide. Read on to discover some examples of the work our expert groups are already doing that contribute towards the goals of the Ocean Decade:
Read more about the Ocean Decade.
Read an interview with Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of the IOC, where he speaks about the Ocean Decade and how ICES can play its part.