Who we are

Our history

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) was established in 1902 by exchange of letters between participating countries. In 1964, through an agreed Convention, ICES received a legal foundation and full international status.

Key events

The Inaugural Meeting 22 July 1902 in Copenhagen

Participants: Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the Russian Federation, and UK

ICES Convention 1964

Copenhagen Declaration 2002

ICES member countries

This list indicates when member countries first joined ICES.

1902: Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the Russian Federation, UK

1903: Belgium

1912: US

1920: France, Portugal

1922: Poland

1923: Latvia

1924: Estonia, Spain

1925: Ireland

1927: Italy

1938: Iceland

1967: Canada

2006: Lithuania

Current member countries are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK, and US.