Next week, ICES Annual Science Conference (ASC) kicks off in Klaipėda, Lithuania. This will be the first time the ICES community has gathered in the country. For Lithuania, the youngest member of ICES, the event marks a symbolic milestone: nearly 20 years after formally joining the organization, it now hosts the most important meeting in our calendar.
Lithuania has long been tied to the sea, but Lithuania's journey into the ICES family took a little longer than expected. After regaining independence in 1990, the country was encouraged to re-join the regional and international bodies that underpin Baltic cooperation. Financial and political priorities delayed ratification in the Lithuanian Parliament for almost a decade. Through those years, Lithuanian scientists still attended ICES meetings as observers. Finally, in 2006, ICES officially welcomed Lithuania as its twentieth Member Country. This accession “closed the circle," making ICES membership continuous from the Iberian Peninsula to the Baltic and across to North America.
Klaipėda has played a central role in that story as Lithuania’s maritime hub, its only seaport, and home to the
country’s fishery research laboratory. The city celebrates its maritime identity annually at the Sea Festival (Jūros šventė), a city-wide tradition since 1934 that folds ship parades, music, and crafts into a weekend that draws thousands.
Lagoon life
Measuring 99km, Lithuania's shoreline is compact, and only 38km borders the open Baltic Sea. The remaining 61km is sheltered by the sandy peninsula of the Curonian Spit. This unique landscape has influenced the choice of the opening keynote speaker, Mike Elliott, University of Hull, who will address the ASC on the importance of connectivity in transitional waters between the catchment and marine areas. This is one of the three keynote lectures, delivered by renowned experts in their fields: Llucia Mascorda-Cabre, University of Plymouth, will speak about how offshore aquaculture boosts ecosystems and Ute Daewel, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon will speak on the impact of offshore wind farms on coastal ecosystems.
A packed programmeThe dynamic meeting of the Nemunas River plume, the Curonian Lagoon, and the open Baltic shapes much of the country's marine science, from eutrophication and harmful algal blooms to shoreline dynamics, underwater noise from emerging offshore energy, and oil-spill preparedness.
ASC 2025 brings these themes together with a wider ICES agenda. The programme features 18 theme sessions across integrated ecosystem assessment and ecosystem-based management; climate and biodiversity pressures; observing systems and survey innovation; social–ecological approaches and advisory methods; and offshore renewable energy interactions with fisheries and ecosystems.
The network sessions are where big ideas meet open conversations - and this year, participants are invited to attend five different network sessions. From tackling gender equity and peer review best practices to reflecting on the culture of marine science itself, these interactive forums push the community to grow stronger together. Fans of our Transparent Assessment Framework are invited to attend the “TAF-cademy Awards”, and there will be a timely look at offshore wind and sustainability.
Early-career scientists have been offered a number of workshops to improve modelling skills, as well as events to meet ICES leadership and find out more about the world of scientific publishing.
Throw in some great social events, including the Tuesday evening poster session and the conference dinner that will take place on the Curonian Spit, and ASC 2025 is shaping up to be a fantastic week.
"We hold our science conference every year for several reasons", says Alan Haynie, ICES General Secretary, "First, the marine ecosystem, marine science, and ICES Member Countries policy priorities evolve rapidly and having an annual meeting allows the meeting to focus on current issues. Secondly, not to be overly dramatic, but strong relationships between scientists are the foundation of great scientific work, and meeting annually helps solidify those bonds. This regularity of meeting is especially important for early-career scientists working to build their community."
Colours of Klaipeda
Do you recall the closing video at the ASC last year? Lithuania invited the community to its shores to discover colours they never knew existed! Hopefully, all ASC participants experience the Baltic blue, if they're lucky, they might find some amber yellow (otherwise plentiful in the shops of Klaipeda), rye-bread black will be readily available at the local bakeries, and the famous cold pink soup šaltibarščiai might be served up for lunch.
Klaipėda is a city where history, culture, and the sea come together. Wander the cobbled streets of the old town and you’ll stumble across whimsical sculptures, medieval fortifications, and riverside paths buzzing with life well into the night. The Baltic is never far away, whether you’re walking along the breakwaters, cycling through the pine forests of Smiltynė, or watching the sun sink into the horizon from sandy beaches at Melnragė and Giruliai. From the Castle Museum with its tunnels and tales of sieges, to the repurposed shipyards and green amphitheatres where the city continues to reinvent its connection to the sea, Klaipėda’s layers of history are everywhere.
After a day of science at Klaipeda Univeristy, Klaipėda’s food scene invites you to refuel. From Michelin dining at Monai and Alba Bistro to seaside staples like Baltas Ruonis, there’s no shortage of flavours to discover. Grab street food and craft drinks at the new Turgaus Food Hall, tuck into rustic Lithuanian comfort dishes at Friedricho Smuklė, or sample beer and bites at Švyturys BHouse, home of Lithuania’s famous brewery. Add in buzzing pubs, a legendary jazz club, and cozy waterfront terraces, and you’ll find Klaipėda offers the perfect mix of international flair and Baltic soul.
Nineteen years after completing the circle of ICES Member Countries, a confident Lithuania is offering a welcoming Baltic port to the ICES community. Pack your presentations, your best marine-themed fashion, and your curiosity. Klaipėda is ready to say "sveiki atvykę".
Online registration is now closed, but you can still register at Klaipeda University from 08:30 on Monday 15 September.
