The main item on the agenda was the renewal of ICES strategy;
including the ICES Strategic Plan and the associated plans for Science, Advice,
and Data as well as the Secretariat, the document is planned for publication in
2014.
The aim is to produce a new draft strategic plan for adoption by ICES Council
in October. Great efforts will be made to ensure that the new strategic
plan is relevant for ICES scientific community and that it facilitates the
provision of best available advisory and data and information services for
policy and decision-making. To achieve this goal, the drafting time-schedule
includes a period of consultation and review by ICES Council, the wider ICES
network, and other relevant organizations, beginning in August.
The Bureau also held a web-conference with Jim Reist, a research
scientist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Central and Arctic Region, to
identify potential areas for collaboration in the Arctic, taking into account the
upcoming Canadian chairmanship of the Arctic Council and the Council’s decision
that ICES seek strategic partnerships for scientific contribution to
policy-makers amidst a rapidly changing Arctic environment.
Other issues discussed by the Bureau included following up the review of the
ICES Advisory Services, developing a risk management framework for ICES,
electronic decision making for delegates via e-mail, reviewing the rules for
observers at ICES, and updating reports from science, advisory services, data,
and the secretariat.
ICES Bureau will meet again in July.
