In 2024, ICES published a revised and updated ICES Roadmap for bycatch of endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species. This roadmap outlines a path to strengthen ICES advice on incidental bycatch and includes species lists of ETP seabirds, fish, and marine mammals of bycatch relevance for each ICES ecoregion.
A key objective of this roadmap is to facilitate cooperation with conservation and regional sea management organizations. ICES are happy to announce that we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
ASCOBANS - the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas.
International collaboration is essential to protect small cetaceans that migrate throughout our seas and oceans. ASCOBANS was established in 1992 to foster cooperation and ensure populations of small cetaceans achieve a favourable conservation status. Our partnership with ASCOBANS will lead to the sharing of knowledge to improve data collection, bycatch methodology, and indicator development, to achieve conservation goals.
By aligning efforts,
ASCOBANS and ICES are paving the way for impactful marine research and conservation.
Read the
Memorandum of Understanding between ASCOBANS and ICES.
