The official programme of the conference includes 18 theme sessions grouped into several generic topics. We have five
sessions dealing with atmospheric and ocean climate, climate change, and their
impacts on ecosystems and their resources, including a session on ocean
acidification and one on polar and subpolar hydrography (sessions B, D, L, M
and N). We also have a series of sessions on sampling and monitoring needs,
including integrated survey design and fisheries sampling schemes (sessions G,
J, P). Spatial aspects are the focus of three sessions dealing with coastal
habitats, spatial distributions and spatial planning (sessions I, K and O).
Finally we have a number of sessions which I would catalogue as emerging issues
such as marine litter (session A), modelling human behaviour (session B),
recreational fisheries (session R), bayesian approaches (session Q), harvesting
strategies (session H) and food web processes (sessions E and F), although some
of these have been “emerging” for some time!
The ASC also hosts a significant number of business meetings of the scientific, advisory, and governance structures of ICES. It is important to reiterate that these meetings, if listed in the ASC programme, are open to all ASC registered participants.
In particular we will highlight the Monday morning meetings organized by ICES Strategic Initiatives and Steering Groups. These meetings report on ICES activities and plan the next year's work of the network expert groups. On Wednesday afternoon, the open SCICOM session will focus on the new Science Plan and its future implementation.
Note! The special evening session entitled
"Stock assessment fight night with a4a" earlier announced for Wednesday 25 September has now been moved to Tuesday 24 September starting at 19:00 hrs in the Norðurljós room.
