Intergovernmental Council

The Council's principal functions are:

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is the oldest intergovernmental organisation in the world concerned with marine and fisheries science. Since its establishment in Copenhagen in 1902, ICES has been a leading scientific forum for the exchange of information and ideas on the sea and its living resources, and for the promotion and coordination of marine research by scientists within its 19 member countries on both sides of the Atlantic.

The work of the Council is concerned with the broad areas of fisheries, oceanography, and the marine environment, and is designed to meet the needs not only of its member countries, but also of regulatory commissions concerned with the efficient use of marine fish and shell fish resources in the Atlantic, including the North Sea and the Baltic, and with the protection of the marine environment from the harmful effects of pollution, and other diverse effects of man’s activities.

The Council is involved in all relevant aspects of oceanographic and marine biological research: the physical and chemical properties of the sea as the environment which supports marine life, the biology, ecology, and population dynamics of exploited fish and shellfish stocks, the contamination and quality of the marine environment, fish capture techniques, marine mammal studies, and mariculture. All of these subject areas are covered at the Council's annual Statutory Meetings and in the extensive scientific literature published by ICES.

The state of the fisheries in the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea has a direct bearing on the economies of many ICES member countries and the viability of a large number of fishing communities. Since fish stocks are often distributed in the waters of more than one country and exploited by fishermen from several nations, it is most practical and efficient if marine fisheries scientists combine their efforts and pool their knowledge on the biology and harvesting of fishery resources under the auspices of an international body.

A major part of ICES' work is undertaken at the direct request of international regulatory commissions and national administrations for scientific information and advice on the conservation and management of fish and shellfish stocks, or the effects of pollution on the marine environment. This advisory function expanded significantly during the 1980’s and has continued to do so. Today, ICES furnishes advice to the following international commissions:

Fisheries

Marine Environment

In the fisheries field, the advisory service is provided through the Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM), which meets twice a year. Its findings and advice are supplied to member governments and fishery commissions, and are subsequently published in the ICES Cooperative Research Report series.

In order to ensure that the advice is given in a form that satisfies the needs of fishery managers, ICES has instituted periodic Dialogue Meetings. At these meetings, scientists responsible for the advice meet and discuss relevant problems with fishery managers and representatives of the fishing industries in member countries.

In the environment field, the Council's advice is provided through the Advisory Committee on the Marine Environment (ACME), which meets once a year. Its report is also published in the ICES Cooperative Research Report series and is supplied to member governments and the pollution regulatory commissions.

The development and coordination of cooperative international research and appraisal of exploited marine fish and shellfish stocks have been important parts of the overall programme of ICES activities since the organisation's inception in 1902. Owing to the increase in fishing activity and the resulting need for improved fisheries management, this part of the programme has grown rapidly. Today, more than 120 stocks in various parts of the North Atlantic and Baltic, including all those of commercial importance, are the subject of investigations taking place under the guidance of ICES. It is now possible to conduct age-based assessments for about half of these stocks, but the data available for the remainder restrict assessments to other methods. ICES work includes the collation and publication of fishery statistics, biological stock monitoring programmes, methodological and theoretical modelling studies, and investigations of biological, ecological, and fishery processes.

United Kingdom Interests

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture (CEFAS), Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT.
Contact: Dr J W Horwood, Chief Fisheries Science Adviser.
Telephone: +44 (0) 1502 524248  Email: j.w.horwood@cefas.co.uk

and

Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, Fisheries Research Services, Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101, Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB.
Contact: Dr Robin Cook, Chief Executive
Telephone: +44 (0) 1224 876544  Email: r.cook@marlab.ac.uk

Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1EU

SEERAD/Defra liaison.