03-10-2019 09:00
How ICES advises on sustainable management of fish stocks and marine ecosystems

On 3 October 2019, Colm Lordan, Vice-Chair of the ICES Advisory Committee gave a presentation in the PECH Committee on how ICES advises on sustainable management of fish stocks and marine ecosystems. The International Council for the Exploitation of the Seas (ICES) is a global intergovernmental science organisation that provides independent advice on fisheries resources and the marine ecosystem.

This presentation describes the structure and working procedures, particularly how ICES builds knowledge, evidence and advice on the management of over 240 fish stocks, bycatches, deep sea impact, vulnerable marine habitats, marine protected areas and other marine ecosystem. The concepts, data sources and methods behind fish stock assessments are introduced and the importance of precautionary and management reference points explained. Finally, the presentation discusses how ICES is making the ecosystem based fisheries management operational through new ecosystem and fisheries overviews.