ICES Annual Science Conference (ASC) 2025 kicked off this week in Klaipėda, Lithuania, marking the first time the country has hosted one of the largest gatherings of marine and fisheries scientists in the world. Participants were welcomed to Klaipėda University by ICES President Carl O'Brien, ICES General Secretary Alan Haynie, Acting Minister of Agriculture for the Republic of Lithuania Ignas Hofmanas, and Rector of Klaipeda University Arturas Razbadauskas.
In a video address, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, underlined the significance of the ASC. “ICES Annual Science Conference has long been a cornerstone for fisheries science and marine research in Europe and beyond," he said. Highlighting the need for strong collaboration between science and policy, Kadis added, “We also need talented scientists that keep enriching our understanding of the marine environment."
The
Commissioner did not shy away from addressing the challenges in the Baltic Sea.
“The Baltic Sea is in a dire situation with the gradual decline of most of
its fish stocks, despite the significant sacrifices made by the fishing
communities over recent years. But we must not be discouraged, we must take
action,” he stressed. Kadis called for a more ambitious ecosystem-based
approach to management, one that integrates fish stocks, habitats, predator-prey dynamics, climate change impacts, cumulative human
pressures, and importantly, the social and economic dimensions. “Advancing
this holistic approach further is crucial if we want resilient oceans and
thriving seas,” he said.
Emerald Growth and the importance of connectivity in transitional waters
In his keynote, Mike Elliott, Director of International Estuarine & Coastal Specialists (IECS) Ltd and Emeritus Professor at the University of Hull urged scientists and policy-makers to move beyond data collection toward integrated action. Drawing on decades of experience, he framed marine management around two fundamental questions: "so what?" and "what if?". Elliott introduced the concept of Emerald Growth, linking land, transitional waters, and seas within one system, and stressed that connectivity is essential for resilience. He highlighted tools like systems analysis, decision-support frameworks, and the ecosystem approach to bridge science, policy, and society. His message was clear: sustainable oceans require not only good science, but coherent governance and collective will.
Watch the full keynote on our YouTube channel now:
