For Massimiliano Cardinale, ICES is more than an organization. It has been the defining thread of his professional life. “ICES has been my journey; it has not shaped it, it has created it," he says.
Over the course of three decades, Massimiliano Cardinale has combined scientific excellence with international leadership, fisheries advice, and a strong commitment to the people behind the science. His sustained contribution to fisheries science and ICES has earned him the 2026 ICES Outstanding Achievement Award.
He has spent more than 30 years in fisheries biology and ecology, and 25 of these working in fisheries management, participated in more than 120 ICES working groups, and chairing more than 25 of them. He has also served as a member of ICES Advisory Committee.
His scientific work covers stock assessment, modelling, statistical analysis, historical fisheries data, and fisheries ecology. With more than 145 publications, his research has contributed to both the development of fisheries science and its practical application to management.
Advancing fish stock assessment
A significant part of Cardinale's recent contribution has been advancing modern assessment methods within ICES, including Stock Synthesis (SS3) and SPiCT. His work has helped bring sophisticated analytical approaches to stocks where data and assessment challenges are particularly demanding.
One peer recalls working with Cardinale on a hake and anglerfish benchmark, where he guided scientists new to Stock Synthesis through the development of their models.
“Max was extremely helpful and responsive, and his guidance has fostered a growing group of proficient SS3 users in ICES. I think he had a large role to play in the uptake of integrated assessment models in ICES."
For Cardinale, however, the contribution he is most proud of is perhaps more fundamental. “The development of reference points is surely what I am most proud of," he says.
His methodological expertise has been particularly influential in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, where he has led the SGMED stock assessment group since 2008 and contributed extensively to Black Sea fisheries assessment. His work includes the first Stock Synthesis assessment of European hake in the Adriatic Sea, an ensemble model for common sole in the Adriatic Sea and Management Strategy Evaluation work for Black Sea turbot.
Science built on collaboration
Cardinale's colleagues emphasise that his contribution is not simply about methods or publications. It is also about the way he works with people.
María Paz Sampedro Pastor, Spanish delegate to ICES Council and senior researcher with Spanish Institute of Oceanography, led the nomination for Cardinale, "I consider Massimiliano Cardinale an outstanding candidate for this award, representing the very best of what ICES stands for in terms of scientific excellence, institutional commitment, and practical impact on fisheries management. His career exemplifies the combination of scientific dedication, leadership, service, and lasting impact that the ICES Outstanding Achievement Award is intended to recognize."
One supporter recalls being “immediately impressed by his way of working: organized and flexible in equal measure." Another remembers how Cardinale listened carefully to the particular circumstances of the blackspot seabream fishery in the Strait of Gibraltar:
“He was the first person to truly listen to the peculiarities of the Strait of Gibraltar blackspot seabream fishery."
That combination of expertise and openness has also helped build scientific capacity across regions and institutions. Through training, workshops and hands-on mentoring, Cardinale has supported scientists working with modern assessment methods and helped strengthen cooperation between EU and non-EU countries.
“ICES is the community"
Cardinale says the award itself has made him reflect on just how much of his life has been dedicated to ICES. “It is a truly moment of proudness for me, made me also to realise how much of my life I have dedicated to the ICES work." He describes receiving the award as both a surprise and a source of pride, particularly because it places him alongside other people he regards as “truly ICES giants".
But his thoughts quickly turn to the wider community. “ICES has shaped my life and careers; I spent possibly years of life in the different ICES buildings but mostly I learned so much from each of my colleagues I met during last 30 years and really enjoyed working together with them. ICES is the community and the community is the single persons that shape it, so all of them mean a lot to me."
That sense of community is also central to the advice he would give to scientists beginning their careers. “Follow your dreams, always be yourself and keep science pure and protected from external influences. ICES offer you that possibility; don't miss it."
For Cardinale, the value of ICES ultimately lies in its ability to bring scientists together across borders. “Collaboration across boundaries is the key for science at the service of society to advance, we could have not achieved what we did in ICES without such wide collaboration between scientists all over the world. It is the strength of ICES."
Now, as the 2026 Outstanding Achievement Award recipient, Cardinale hopes that contribution can also inspire those coming next. “I hope that I can inspire younger people to be dedicated to ICES as I have been during my career."
ICES Outstanding Achievement Award 2026 was presented to MCardinale by PAblo Abaunza, Chair of ICES
