IMPLEMENTING THE ICES STRATEGIC PLAN LINKING SCIENCE, ADVICE, DATA AND INFORMATION, AND SECRETARIAT

Transcription

1 IMPLEMENTING THE ICES STRATEGIC PLAN AUGUST 2014 LINKING SCIENCE, ADVICE, DATA AND INFORMATION, AND SECRETARIAT

2 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea H. C. Andersens Boulevard DK-1553 Copenhagen V Denmark tel +45 / fax +45 / ISBN: Unless otherwise stated, the copyright for the content of ICES Strategic Plan and its associated implementation plans is vested in the publisher. Material herein may not be reproduced without written permission from the copyright owners International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Image credits: cover image, p. 26, 29, 33, 46, 63 - Fotolia p. 5 - Dennis Jarvis p. 8 - Fiona Thomson, Marine Scotland p. 10, 12, back page - NOAA p Sebastian Valanko p Chris Bainbridge p Norwegian Seafood Council, MRI, Iceland p. 45, 60 - istock p Marine Scotland Graphic Design by Phoenix Design Aid A/S a CO2 neutral company accredited in the fields of quality (ISO 9001), environment (ISO14001) and CSR (DS49001) and approved provider of FSC certified products

3 Contents Implementing the ICES Strategy... 5 ICES Science Plan... 8 Advancing scientific understanding of marine ecosystems... 9 A framework for Integrated Ecosystem Assessments...10 Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics (EPD)...11 Ecosystem Pressures and Impacts (EPI)...13 Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEA)...13 Integrated Ecosystem Observation and Monitoring Programme (IEOM)...15 Transferring science to advisory services...15 Science delivery...16 Science governance...17 Performance evaluation...19 Annex 1 Summary of objectives and priority areas in the ICES Science Plan...20 ICES Advice Plan...26 Challenges and opportunities...28 Delivering the supporting activities...28 Annex 2 Actions and associated performance measurement of the advice plan...34 Annex 3 Schedule for taking into account technical and biological interactions in fisheries advice...44 ICES Data and Information Plan...46 The importance of data services to the scientific understanding of marine ecosystems (the Data context)...48 Highlights from the implementation of the Data and Information Plan...48 Data and Information Services (DIS) resources...49 ICES Data Centre...49 Data and Information Group (DIG)...50 Projects and contracts...50 Review and performance evaluation...50 Plan ownership and governance...51 Plan review and update...51 Annex 4 Data and Information plan implementation (detailed)...52 ICES Secretariat Plan...60 Towards an efficient and effective organization...60 Annex 5 Secretariat response to Strategic Plan goals...64

4 Science for Sustainable Seas The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea is a network of scientists, based on an international convention. The work of ICES is facilitated through this network of more than 4000 scientists, from over 350 marine institutes in 20 Member Countries and beyond (with experts coming from 45 countries). The ICES network engages in frequent collaborations with industry stakeholders, as well as with various intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. ICES MEMBER COUNTRIES Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States of America 4

5 Implementing the ICES Strategy The ICES Strategic Plan will be realized through the implementation channels of Science, Advice, Data and Information, and the Secretariat. The Strategic Plan commits ICES to building a foundation of science around one key challenge: integrated ecosystem understanding. ICES will produce integrated ecosystem assessments in regional seas as a fundamental link between ecosystem science and the advice required in applying the ecosystem approach. components of ecosystems. This will provide the integrated information and advice that decision makers need. The ICES Secretariat will assist in the delivery of Science, Advisory, and Data and Information products and services, and ensure an efficient and effective organization. ICES has also made a number of strategic choices to further develop its science, advisory, and data work pertaining to the Arctic, as well as in aquaculture. ICES will additionally enhance its Training Programme. This will place a high demand on the complexity and the amount of data and knowledge needed to conduct informed science and make decisions. ICES science and advice will be underpinned with data services that deliver increasingly complex data and processes in an efficient and effective way to the users of these data. The ICES advisory process will be based on innovative and relevant science, and will produce evidence-based advice across industry sectors and The science for integrated assessments and production of integrated advice can only take place if marine ecosystems are monitored and quality-assured ecosystem data are available as the foundation of analysis. It is also crucial that the overall monitoring, science, and advisory process is open and transparent, that quality assurance takes place, and that the organization is technically efficient. 5

6 To evaluate the successful implementation of the ICES Strategic Plan, performance measures (things that can be measured and related to the degree of success in achieving goals) have been identified or are being developed during 2014 for the plans of Science, Advice, Data and Information Services, and the Secretariat. Developing appropriate performance indicators and conducting peer reviews of ICES programmes on a regular basis are critical to the success of the ICES Strategy. The performance indicators presented in this Implementation Plan represent a first attempt and will evolve as implementation of the ICES Strategic Plan progresses. ICES Core Values as Operating Principles Science on ecosystem pressures & impacts Products The ICES mission Integrated ecosystem assessments Science on ecosystem dynamics and processes Benchmarking Operationalization Operationalization Benchmarking Single issue advice Integrated advice Knowledge, communication & science Data To advance the scientific understanding of marine ecosystems, and provide information, knowledge, and advice on the sustainable management of human activities affecting, and affected by, marine ecosystems. Integrated ecosystem monitoring & international data platform Ensuring an efficient & effective organization Delivering the ICES mission The Strategic Plan is implemented through four implementation plans that involve: Building a foundation of science (Science Plan); Producing the information and advice decision-makers need (Advice Plan); Underpinning science and advice through data and information services (Data and Information Plan); Supporting the organization through the work of the ICES Secretariat (Secretariat Plan). 6

7 Implementing the ICES Strategy The ICES Strategic Plan four pillars and seven goals ICES STRATEGIC PLAN SCIENCE COMMITTEE (SCICOM) ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ACOM) DATA & INFORMATION SERVICES (DIS) SECRETARIAT Building a foundation of Science Producing the information and advice decisionmakers need Underpinning Science and Advice through Data and Information Services Supporting the Organization through the work of the Secretariat GOAL 1 Develop an integrated, interdisciplinary understanding of the structure, dynamics, and the resilience and response of marine ecosystems to change GOAL 3 Evaluate and advise on options for the sustainable use and protection of marine ecosystems GOAL 4 Promote the advancement of data and information services for science and advice needs GOAL 6 Foster the science, advisory, data and information services through the work of the Secretariat GOAL 2 Understand the relationship between human activities and marine ecosystems, estimate pressures and impacts, and develop science-based, sustainable pathways GOAL 5 Catalyse best practices in marine data management, and promote the ICES data nodes as a global resource E GOAL 7 organization 7

8 ICES Science Plan The Strategic Plan identifies two goals under the Science pillar of ICES: ICES will achieve the Science goals through four supporting activities: Develop an integrated, interdisciplinary understanding of the structure, dynamics, and the resilience and response of marine ecosystems to change (Goal 1); 1. Investigating the structure, functioning, dynamics, and interconnectedness of marine ecosystems, their different biotic components, and the abiotic environment at different spatial scales; Understand the relationship between human activities and marine ecosystems, estimate pressures and impacts, and develop science-based, sustainable pathways (Goal 2). 2. Providing tools and methods for assessing relationships between marine ecosystems, their biological resources, and the provision of services to society, including socio-economic aspects; 8

9 ICES Science Plan ICES Core Values as Operating Principles Products The ICES mission Science on ecosystem pressures & impacts Integrated ecosystem assessments Science on ecosystem dynamics and processes Benchmarking Operationalization Operationalization Benchmarking Single issue advice Integrated advice Knowledge, communication & science Data To advance the scientific understanding of marine ecosystems, and provide information, knowledge, and advice on the sustainable management of human activities affecting, and affected by, marine ecosystems. Integrated ecosystem monitoring & international data platform Ensuring an efficient and effective organization 3. Developing integrated ecosystem assessment methodologies and approaches that allow the use of both qualitative and quantitative data, and which can be used to address both specific advisory questions and broader ecosystem issues; 4. Establishing integrated ecosystem observation and monitoring systems that enable coordinated data collection in support of scientific and advisory needs, and which have strong links with the ICES and national data centres. The Science Plan provides a scientific vision to coordinate the work of ICES in achieving the above goals, while responding to the rapidly changing marine science and policy landscapes. The Science Plan is targeted at the oceanographic and marine science community in the North Atlantic region, inside and outside ICES. It is also directed at managers, clients, industries, government and non-governmental organizations with an interest in North Atlantic marine science. The development of benchmarked 1 operational models is a core task. ICES relies on the coordinated contributions from its international network of more than 4000 scientists for its science implementation. ICES works to add value to the scientific efforts of the marine science community. The Science Plan provides a vision to focus and prioritize these scientific activities, while continuing to innovate and develop scientific capacity. ADVANCING SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF MARINE ECOSYSTEMS Marine ecosystems are complex and interdependent organizational units composed of animals, plants, their physical environment which includes humans and their activities. Recognizing the ecosystem as 1 A benchmark is a process in which all underlying data, knowledge, and methodologies and approaches are examined to provide the most robust and credible advice. The results of benchmarks are peer reviewed. 9

10 a fundamental organizational structure has long provided a focal point for ICES science, but only recently have ecosystem considerations become intrinsic to policy objectives and management of marine activities. Achieving integrated ecosystem understanding requires an interdisciplinary approach including the detailed knowledge of the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems, with appreciation for the connectivity and interdependency of ecosystem components and social and economic activities related to these ecosystems. Because ecosystems respond to external pressures in complex and interdependent ways, they are best assessed when observing the entire ecosystem including human activities. This requires a quantitative understanding of: (a) the interactive and multiple nature of the pressures and impacts on ecosystems; and (b) how ecosystems respond to these multiple stressors, including the effects on the goods and services ecosystems provide to society. A FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENTS The Science Plan lays out the scientific basis for Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEA) in ICES regional seas. An IEA is a quantitative evaluation and synthesis of information on physical, chemical, ecological, and human processes that provide the scientific understanding to deliver advice on societal trade-offs among different policy options. The integrated approach to ecosystem understanding and advice includes ecological, economic, and social dimensions. To conduct IEAs, ICES science needs to understand the internal processes that control ecosystem dynamics as well as the external pressures and impacts on regional ecosystems and their societal consequences. The basis for these integrative analyses is sound interdisciplinary science. IEAs should also evaluate the provision of, and impacts on, the goods and services delivered by marine ecosystems to human society. Over the last decade, marine and maritime policies have embraced the ecosystem approach to manage the services provided by marine ecosystems. These policies recognize the need to implement approaches that address ecological, economic, and social needs. Using the ecosystem approach, ICES strengthens the link between science, policy developments, and advisory needs to inform society regarding the ecological, economic, and social trade-offs among different policy options. The development of the ecosystem approach to management (EAM) has progressed substantially but not sufficiently in recent years. An essential element of the EAM is that sectoral and cross-sectoral management objectives and approaches converge so that ecosystem integrity is maintained through the sustainable use of living marine resources. ICES recognizes that no single technical approach exists to achieve these goals. However, a number of methods have been developed which are relevant to achieving EAM. One key area of development is the quantification of interactions between different pressures. A number of methodologies and frameworks are available to conduct IEAs; these are conceptually divided between quantitative and expert-based approaches. ICES will develop and evaluate its own IEA frameworks to address its scientific and advisory needs, using both current datasets and those that may become available in the future. Other complementary 10

11 ICES Science Plan frameworks will also be considered, especially when they contribute missing or ancillary elements for the IEA. Integration of existing datasets with new data collection programmes (based on gap analyses) will transpire, and then these data explicitly linked to the Integrated Ecosystem Observation and Monitoring Programme. In this context, ICES will explore collaboration with wider international data collection programmes, with all data managed according to internationally-agreed standards. IEAs are not expected to replace issue-based advisory needs. However, IEAs will provide a wider evidence-based context to ICES advice. This will be manifest by assessing the external influences that could hamper the attainment of issue-based objectives, as well as in evaluating the consequences of reaching such objectives. The inclusion of social and economic elements within the IEAs will facilitate the evaluation of the social, economic, and ecological trade-offs in achieving specific objectives. Overall, IEAs will be an incremental development in applying ecosystem based management approaches in the ICES region. IEAs require integrated observation and monitoring processes to obtain necessary data currently not being collected. ICES coordinates a number of survey and sampling programmes, such as the International Bottom-Trawl Survey (IBTS). However, IEAs will create additional demands regarding the nature, scope, quality, quantity, and comparability of data. Many ICES countries are already developing integrated survey strategies as a result of ecosystem-based policy directives. Canada, for example, has recently adopted an integrated management framework calling for ecosystem-focused monitoring programmes. The European Union is currently implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), asking Member Countries to take measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) by 2020 and requiring that coordinated monitoring programmes be established by ICES, as the host for many decades of integrated and international long-term databases of fisheries, oceanographic, contaminants, and biological data, is uniquely positioned to address the coordination of monitoring programmes on behalf of its Member Countries. Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics (EPD) The aim of the ICES Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics (EPD) element is to: Develop an integrated, interdisciplinary understanding of the structure, dynamics, and the resilience and response of marine ecosystems to change. Investigate the structure, functioning, dynamics, and interconnectedness of marine ecosystems, their different biotic components, and the abiotic environment at different spatial scales. This will deliver ecosystem indicators of state and function useful for developing IEAs and for providing management advice. The specific objectives and priorities of the EPD element of the Science Plan are: Describe and quantify the state of North Atlantic Ocean regional systems: Assess the physical, chemical, and biological state of regional seas and investigate the predominant climatic, hydrological, and biological features and processes that characterize regional ecosystems. Quantify the nature and degree of connectivity and separation between regional ecosystems. Understand and forecast the impacts of climate variability and change on marine ecosystems: Quantify the differential effects of climate change on regional ecosystems and develop species and habitat vulnerability assessments for key species. 11

12 Understand the influence of climate impacts across a range of spatial and temporal scales, from local to global and from seasonal to multidecadal, and identify indicators of climate driven biotic responses and forecast trajectories of change. Resolve and quantify ecological processes in marine ecosystems, including modelling the dynamics of food webs and their responses to environmental change: Quantify the role of structural and functional diversity in marine ecosystems in providing stability and resilience. Investigate linear and non-linear ecological responses to change, the impacts of these changes on ecosystem structure and function, and their role in causing recruitment and stock variability, depletion, and recovery. Develop end-to-end modelling capability to fully integrate natural and anthropogenic forcing factors affecting ecosystem functioning. Quantify the relationship between habitat condition, ecological processes, and the provision of ecosystem goods and services: Define and quantify North Atlantic ecosystem goods and services, model their dependence on ecosystem processes and habitat condition, and estimate their social, economic, and cultural value. Identify indicators of state and function for use in the assessment and management of ecosystem goods and services. 12

13 ICES Science Plan Ecosystem Pressures and Impacts (EPI) introduction of alien species, and generation of underwater noise. The aim of Ecosystems Pressures and Impacts (EPI) element is to: Understand the relationship between human activities and marine ecosystems, estimate pressures and impacts, and develop science-based sustainable pathways. Provide tools and methods for assessing the relationships between marine ecosystems, their biological resources, and the provision of services to society, including socio-economic aspects. The objectives of the EPI element are: Estimate long-term trends of human impacts on marine ecosystems: Develop historical baselines of population and community structure and production to be used as the basis for population and system level reference points. Understand, quantify, and mitigate multiple impacts of human activity on populations and ecosystems: Develop methods to quantify multiple direct and indirect impacts from fisheries as well as from mineral extraction, energy generation, aquaculture practices, and other anthropogenic activities, and estimate the vulnerability of marine ecosystems to these impacts. Develop approaches to mitigate impacts from these activities, particularly the reduction of non-target mortalities and enhancement/restoration of habitat, and assess the effects of these mitigations on marine populations. Develop indicators of pressure on populations and ecosystems from human activities such as eutrophication, contaminant and litter release, Provide evidence in support of the sustainable provision of ecosystem goods and services: Evaluate ecological, economic, and social tradeoffs between ecosystem protection and sustainable use to advise on the management of human activity in marine ecosystems. Develop tactical and strategic models to support short- and long-term fisheries management and governance advice and increasingly incorporate spatial components in such models to allow for finer scale management of marine habitats and populations. Quantify and map biological, ecological, and environmental values, with an aim to optimize ecosystem use and minimize environmental impacts in relation to ecosystem carrying capacity. Develop science in support of advisory needs in marine aquaculture systems, minimizing environmental impacts, and integrating other marine sectors. Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEA) The aim for Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEA) is to: Develop integrated ecosystem assessment methodologies and approaches that allow the use of both qualitative and quantitative data, and which can be used to address both specific advisory questions and broader ecosystem issues. The IEAs will be implemented as a Science Committee (SCICOM)/Advisory Committee (ACOM) activity, recognizing both current and future scientific and advisory needs. 13

14 The main objectives of the ICES IEA element are: Develop a scoping process to identify objectives to guide IEAs in ICES regional seas: Identify objectives for IEAs that address ecosystem stability and health, taking cognizance of ecological, social, and economic sustainability goals as well as multi-scale issues. Identify issue-based ecosystem questions relevant to science and management needs that can be addressed by developing IEAs. Provide priorities and specifications for data collection frameworks supporting IEAs. Advance IEA methodologies and approaches in the ICES context: Conduct pilot studies in data-rich areas for alternative IEA approaches, linking qualitative and quantitative methods at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. Develop approaches that allow forecasting within an IEA and evaluation of the effectiveness and trade-offs of different management options. Determine and demonstrate what modelling and analytical approaches will allow projections of ecosystem states in IEAs. Use IEAs to assist in informing management about the effects of cumulative pressures and additive and non-additive impacts and which provide risk evaluations and analyses of trade-offs between sectoral objectives. Compare IEA and single-issue approaches regarding their efficacy in providing management and governance advice on sectoral and multi-sectoral use of the oceans. 14

15 ICES Science Plan Integrated Ecosystem Observation and Monitoring Programme (IEOM) The aim for Integrated Ecosystem Observation and Monitoring (IEOM) is to: Establish integrated ecosystem observation and monitoring systems that enable coordinated data collection in support of scientific and advisory needs, and which have strong links with ICES and national centres. The IEOM will be implemented as a SCICOM/ ACOM activity. Implement integrated monitoring programmes in the ICES area: Allocate and coordinate observation and monitoring requests to appropriate expert groups on fishery-independent and fishery-dependent surveys and sampling, and monitor the quality and delivery of data products. Ensure the development of best practices through establishment of guidelines and quality standards for: (a) surveys and other sampling and data collection systems; (b) external peer reviews of data collection programmes; and (c) training and capacity-building opportunities for monitoring activities. The main objectives of the ICES IEOM element are: Identify and prioritize ICES monitoring and data collection needs: Identify monitoring requirements for science and advisory needs in collaboration with data product users, including a description of variables and data products, spatial and temporal resolution needs, and the desired quality of data and estimates. Develop a cost benefit framework to evaluate and optimize monitoring strategies in the context of the capabilities of, and requests from, ICES Member Countries and clients. Develop further the methodology for observation and monitoring of marine ecosystems in the ICES area: Identify knowledge and methodological monitoring gaps, and develop strategies to fill these gaps. Promote new technologies and opportunities for observation and monitoring, and assess their capabilities in the ICES context. Promote the development and testing of new fishing gear technology and methods for selective reduction of bycatch and discards, and for mitigation of other environmental impacts of fishing. TRANSFERRING SCIENCE TO ADVISORY SERVICES The aim of transferring science to advisory services is to: Ensure the effective transfer and application of innovative and relevant science into sound, credible, and responsive advice. To ensure a quality-controlled, science advisory communication mechanism, ICES will: Establish a joint ACOM/SCICOM benchmark management process coordinated by a Benchmarking Steering Group (BSG), with the following objectives: Advance the ICES benchmarking process to include ecosystem and ecosystem subcomponent assessments, and develop regional ecosystem benchmarks. Define a clear roadmap with an achievable timetable for managing the benchmarking process. Develop performance measures for the BSG work and to evaluate the effectiveness of the benchmarking process. 15

16 Develop evaluation measures for the incorporation of available science in ICES assessments and advice. Implement an ACOM/SCICOM benchmarking process that is innovative, dynamic, and achieves significant engagement: Engage with steering groups, expert groups, ACOM, SCICOM, and the ICES Secretariat to identify concepts, methodologies, models and data relevant to the benchmarking process. Develop a process to translate these concepts and methodologies into benchmarking products and outputs that subsequently can be applied in routine assessments, and which is based on a comprehensive evaluation of costs and benefits. Establish a scoping process that includes stakeholders. This process will foster dynamic and effective communication between science and advisory expert groups, and also engage with ICES professional services coordinated through the Secretariat. The benchmarking process will be based on a rigorous, independent peer review, build on the expertise of expert groups on stock and ecosystem assessments, and make best use of international scientific and management partners and networks. SCIENCE DELIVERY The Science Plan has a clear scientific focus and is supported by an objective and output-driven governance to ensure that ICES attracts both academic and government scientists. The delivery of ICES science includes the following mechanisms: Expert groups (working groups and workshops) Theme sessions at Annual Science Conferences Topical science symposia Promote the benchmarking process at all levels as the most effective approach to develop science into recurrent advice: Advise on strategies to attract new scientists into the ICES benchmarking process, advertise in international networks, and develop an attractive publication scheme of benchmarking results (with the Publications and Communications Group, PUBCOM). Engage with research funding agencies and academia to ensure that new science is incorporated into the advisory process. The benchmarking process will be the mechanism to develop the basis for tactical or issue-based advice, as well as for long-term strategic advice, e.g. long-term management plans. This process will use quantitative and qualitative data, models, and knowledge, and bring these through a transparent, quality-assured process to conduct operational IEA assessments. ICES science is developed primarily through science-driven expert groups (EGs). Although most EG attendees come from ICES Member Countries, the network operates internationally and provides a forum for international development of science objectives and opportunities. The science disciplines represented within the network include physical and chemical oceanography, marine biology and ecology, fisheries and stock assessments, and many other fields including the social and economic sciences. The ICES Science Committee (SCICOM) organizes the Annual Science Conference (ASC) and associated events. The ICES ASC brings together scientists, managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to evaluate scientific progress, develop new ideas, establish partnerships, and plan future work on a wide variety of topics. SCICOM also coordinates a programme of topical marine science symposia, which are often delivered in coordination with ICES partners. 16

17 ICES Science Plan Scientific collaborations are commonly developed to address issues that extend beyond the ICES geographical area and to address multidisciplinary issues. These collaborations are enacted through formal collaboration agreements, with specific implementation mechanisms through expert groups and symposia. Science governance ICES Council has delegated its science authority to the SCICOM. This committee establishes the mechanisms necessary to deliver the Science Plan. SCICOM has the following instruments to govern its activities and evaluate performance: Steering Groups Expert groups are organized within steering groups to manage their work and delivery, and to collectively deliver the higher objectives of the steering group. Under the Science Plan , SCICOM has four steering groups aligned with the four elements to deliver the science vision: Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics (SSGEPD) Ecosystem Pressures and Impacts (SSGEPI) Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (SSGIEA) Integrated Ecosystem Observation and Monitoring (SSGIEOM) Secretariat: Quality control and routine Advice Drafting Groups: Model suitable for advisory purposes Assessment EGs: Model development Data availability ACOM/SCICOM Steering Group: Benchmark coordination and management ACOM/SCICOM Benchmark Process ICES ADVISORY Process ACOM/ SCICOM Steering Group: Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEA) SCICOM Steering Group: Ecosystem Pressures and Impacts (EPI) SCICOM Steering Group: Ecosystem Dynamics and Processes (EDP) ACOM/SCICOM Steering Group: Integrated Ecosystem Observation and Monitoring (IEOM) 17

18 The last two are implemented in coordination with the ICES Advisory Committee (ACOM). There is also an ACOM/SCICOM steering group to coordinate and manage the transfer and application of innovative science into sound, credible, and responsive advice: ACOM/SCICOM Benchmarking Steering Group (BSG) SCICOM and ACOM will provide mechanisms to ensure the coordination and collective delivery of the objectives of the BSG and adequate consideration of cross-steering group issues. Operational Groups SCICOM has three operational groups to address the cross-cutting responsibilities of the ICES Science programme: Data and Information Group (DIG) to advise on all aspects of data management, including data policy, data strategy, data quality, technical issues, and user-oriented guidance. This work will be closely coordinated with the ICES Data Centre. Publications and Communications Group (PUBCOM) to maintain and coordinate the publication and dissemination of research conducted under the auspices of ICES. Training Group (TG) to help build capacity in ICES (and elsewhere) and to support the scientists involved in the advisory process. The TG offers a range of training courses by high profile scientists and is open to individuals from Member and Non-Member Countries alike. There are also operational structures to prepare the scientific programme for the ASC (ASC Group) and an Awards Committee to provide recognition by ICES of outstanding scientists and professional achievements. Strategic Initiatives Strategic Initiatives (SI) are coordinating scientific activities to introduce innovative and interdisciplinary thinking to ICES on topics that are cross-cutting and require additional partners outside the ICES constituency. SIs are aimed at increasing the profile and relevance of ICES in a rapidly changing scientific and policy landscape, and are managed by SCICOM and ACOM. Recent SIs include: Area-Based Science and Management (SIASM), Stock Assessment Methods (SISAM), 18

19 ICES Science Plan Biodiversity Advice and Science (SIBAS), and Climate Change and Marine Ecosystems (SICCME). Each steering group, operational group, and strategic initiative has responsibility for delivering the goals and objectives of the Science Plan in the relevant areas within its remit. groups are appointed for three years, with specific Terms of Reference (ToRs). At the completion of their 3-year terms, EGs are expected to complete a self-assessment of their performance and, if further work is deemed necessary, provide new draft ToRs for evaluation and possible action by SCICOM. Performance evaluation It is important that the Science Plan includes specific measures to evaluate its implementation and delivery. Indicators will be developed to evaluate the performance and progress of scientific activities in the following areas: SCICOM evaluation SCICOM will deliver an annual progress report to the ICES Council containing a detailed description of the processes in the implementation of the Science Plan, together with a review and evaluation of the outcomes of these processes. SSG evaluation SSGs are expected to complete the activities and products specified in their ToRs. In some cases, these will be delivered through EGs. When this occurs, SSGs will develop mechanisms to facilitate such delivery within and between SSGs, for example via specific topic sessions and focused discussions at the ASC. Benchmarking The benchmarking process is essential for the successful implementation of the science and advisory plans. The benchmarking implementation process includes mechanisms to evaluate performance. EG evaluation Expert groups deliver reports on their activities on an annual basis for review, use, and dissemination in ICES. Science expert 19

20 Annex 1 Summary of objectives and priority areas in the ICES Science Plan SCIENCE PLAN OBJECTIVES ICES Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics (EPD) Describe and quantify the state of North Atlantic Ocean regional systems. Understand and forecast the impacts of climate variability and change on marine ecosystems. Resolve and quantify ecological processes in marine ecosystems, including modelling the dynamics of food webs and their responses to environmental change. Quantify the relationship between habitat condition, ecological processes, and the provision of ecosystem goods and services. ICES Ecosystem Pressures and Impacts (EPI) Estimate long-term trends of human impacts on marine ecosystems. 20

21 ICES Science Plan SCIENCE PRIORITY AREAS 1. Assess the physical, chemical, and biological state of regional seas, and investigate the predominant climatic, hydrological, and biological features and processes that characterize regional ecosystems. 2. Quantify the nature and degree of connectivity and separation between regional ecosystems. 3. Quantify the differential effects of climate change on regional ecosystems, and develop species and habitat vulnerability assessments for key species. 4. Understand the influence of climate impacts across a range of spatial and temporal scales, from local to global and from seasonal to multidecadal, and identify indicators of climate-driven biotic responses and forecast trajectories of change. 5. Quantify the role of structural and functional diversity in marine ecosystems in providing stability and resilience. 6. Investigate linear and non-linear ecological responses to change, the impacts of these changes on ecosystem structure and function, and their role in causing recruitment and stock variability, depletion, and recovery. 7. Develop end-to-end modelling capability to fully integrate natural and anthropogenic forcing factors affecting ecosystem functioning. 8. Define and quantify North Atlantic ecosystem goods and services, model their dependence on ecosystem processes and habitat condition, and estimate their social, economic and cultural value. 9. Identify indicators of state and function for use in the assessment and management of ecosystem goods and services. 10. Develop historical baselines of population and community structure and production to be used as the basis for population and system level reference points. 21

22 SCIENCE PLAN OBJECTIVES Understand, quantify, and mitigate multiple impacts of human activity on populations and ecosystems. Provide evidence in support of the sustainable management of ecosystem goods and services. ICES Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEA) Develop a scoping process to identify objectives to guide IEAs in ICES regional seas. Advance IEA methodologies and approaches in the ICES context. Develop approaches that allow forecasting within an IEA and evaluation of the effectiveness and trade-offs of different management options. 22

23 ICES Science Plan SCIENCE PRIORITY AREAS 11. Develop methods to quantify multiple direct and indirect impacts from fisheries, as well as from mineral extraction, energy generation, aquaculture practices, and other anthropogenic activities, and estimate the vulnerability of marine ecosystems to these impacts. 12. Develop approaches to mitigate impacts from these activities, particularly reduction of non-target mortalities and enhancement/restoration of habitat, and assess the effects of these mitigations on marine populations. 13. Develop indicators of pressure on populations and ecosystems from human activities such as eutrophication, contaminant and litter release, introduction of alien species, and generation of underwater noise. 14. Evaluate ecological, economic, and social trade-offs between ecosystem protection and sustainable use to advise on the management of human activity marine ecosystems. 15. Develop tactical and strategic models to support short- and long-term fisheries management and governance advice, and increasingly incorporate spatial components in such models to allow for finer scale management of marine habitats and populations. 16. Quantify and map biological, ecological, and environmental values, with an aim to optimize ecosystem use and minimize environmental impacts in relation to ecosystem carrying capacity. 17. Develop science in support of advisory needs in marine aquaculture systems, minimizing environmental impacts, and integrating other marine sectors. 18. Identify objectives for IEAs that address ecosystem stability and health, taking cognizance of ecological, social, and economic sustainability goals as well as multi-scale issues. 19. Identify issue-based ecosystem questions relevant to science and management needs that can be addressed by developing IEAs. 20. Provide priorities and specifications for data collection frameworks supporting IEAs 21. Conduct pilot studies in data-rich areas for alternative IEA approaches, linking qualitative and quantitative methods at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. 22. Determine and demonstrate what modelling and analytical approaches will allow projections of ecosystem states in IEAs. 23. Use IEAs to assist in informing management about the effects of cumulative pressures and additive and nonadditive impacts, and which provide risk evaluations and analyses of trade-offs between sectoral objectives. 24. Compare IEA and single-issue approaches regarding their efficacy in providing management and governance advice on sectoral and multi-sectoral use of the oceans. 23

24 SCIENCE PLAN OBJECTIVES ICES Integrated Ecosystem Observation and Monitoring Programme (IEOM) Identify and prioritize ICES monitoring and data collection needs. Develop further the methodology for the observation and monitoring of marine ecosystems in the ICES area. Implement integrated monitoring programmes in the ICES area. 24

25 ICES Science Plan SCIENCE PRIORITY AREAS 25. Identify monitoring requirements for science and advisory needs in collaboration with data product users, including a description of variables and data products, spatial and temporal resolution needs, and the desired quality of data and estimates. 26. Develop a cost benefit framework to evaluate and optimize monitoring strategies in the context of the capabilities of, and requests from, ICES Member Countries and clients. 27. Identify knowledge and methodological monitoring gaps, and develop strategies to fill these gaps. 28. Promote new technologies and opportunities for observation and monitoring, and assess their capabilities in the ICES context. 29. Promote the development and testing of new fishing gear technology and methods for selective reduction of bycatch and discards, and for mitigation of other environmental impacts of fishing 30. Allocate and coordinate observation and monitoring requests to appropriate expert groups on fishery-independent and fishery-dependent surveys and sampling, and monitor the quality and delivery of data products. 31. Ensure the development of best practices through establishment of guidelines and quality standards for: (a) surveys and other sampling and data collection systems; (b) external peer reviews of data collection programmes; and (c) training and capacity-building opportunities for monitoring activities. 25

26 ICES Advice Plan The Strategic Plan identifies the following goal under the Advice pillar of ICES: Evaluate and advise on options for the sustainable use and protection of marine ecosystems (Goal 3). ICES will achieve the Advice goal through four supporting activities: 1. Providing recurrent advice on fisheries and environmental issues in the North Atlantic and adjacent seas, such as the provision of advice on multiannual fisheries management plans, spatial management needs, and on possible consequences (biological, physical, social, and economic consequences of alternative management scenarios will be presented); 2. Responding to the evolving policy context and to non-recurring special requests on fisheries, aquaculture, and environmental issues, such as the provision of precautionary and MSY-consistent advice, advice on mixed fisheries taking account of biological interactions, advice on aquaculture environmental interactions, and advice on implementation of environmental directives; 26

27 ICES Advice Plan ICES Core Values as Operating Principles Science on ecosystem pressures & impacts Products The ICES mission Integrated ecosystem assessments Science on ecosystem dynamics and processes Benchmarking Operationalization Operationalization Benchmarking Single issue advice Integrated advice Knowledge, communication & science Data To advance the scientific understanding of marine ecosystems, and provide information, knowledge, and advice on the sustainable management of human activities affecting, and affected by, marine ecosystems. Integrated ecosystem monitoring & international data platform Ensuring an efficient & effective organization 3. Promoting the use and delivery of integrated advice in an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries and environmental management, such as integrated ecosystem assessments, providing guidance on how to maintain or improve good environmental status, and advice on ecosystem health and productivity that considers drivers such as climate change and various maritime activities; 4. Ensuring quality assurance, transparency, and political neutrality so that users and stakeholders have confidence in the advice. This will involve dialogue and collaborations with managers and stakeholders on both regional and international levels. ICES will use its advisory process to produce evidence-based, relevant, responsive, sound, reliable, and credible advice across industry sectors and components of ecosystems to address the needs of Member Countries and partner commissions. Evidence-based scientific information is the foundation of ICES advice. ICES advice is subject to a quality assurance scheme based on peer-reviewed data, methods and analyses, and relies on the active involvement of scientists from Member Countries in expert groups. The process is documented in expert group reports. The advice texts are prepared by Advice Drafting Groups, and approved by the Advisory Committee (ACOM). ICES Council has delegated its advisory authority to ACOM, the sole competent body of ICES for scientific advice in support of the management of coastal and ocean resources and ecosystems. More information on the advisory process can be found on ICES website: Pages/default.aspx 27

28 CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ICES advice must meet the present needs of decision-makers while being further developed to meet future needs. To meet future demands, the advice must go beyond traditional assessments of the status of fish and fisheries and must encompass aquatic ecosystems in their entirety. The demand for single issue advice is expected to increase in areas such as protection of endangered stocks and the marine environment, landing obligations, the Arctic Ocean and interactions between aquaculture and the environment as well as support for initiatives such as the Marine Framework Strategy Directive (MSFD), and providing advice on the ecosystem approach to management. The expanding agenda for the oceans is likely to increase the demands for advice that integrates fisheries, environmental, and ecosystem considerations. This integrated advice will also need to include the human dimension and consider both anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystems and the impacts of marine management measures on human populations. As a result, the demand for ICES advice from the European Commission, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), Regional Seas Commissions, Member Countries, and other advice clients will likely continue to increase. The challenge for ICES is to meet the present and future needs of decision-makers during a time when the available human resources in national institutes, which are actively involved in the advisory process, are likely to decrease. ACOM will need to address this challenge by matching workload with human resources, increased prioritization, and using technological solutions for producing advice as efficiently and effectively as possible. This will include attracting more scientists from academia to the ICES advisory process. To realize efficiencies in the advisory process, ACOM needs to effectively interact with users of the advice and with the ICES science programme to ensure that priority needs for advice are addressed. Because ICES advice is science based, a general challenge is to strengthen the link between science and advice to ensure that relevant scientific information and data are available or developed when needed for advice. DELIVERING THE SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES Providing recurrent advice on fisheries and environmental issues in the North Atlantic and adjacent seas, such as the provision of advice on multiannual fisheries management plans, spatial management needs and on possible consequences (biological, physical, social, and economic) of alternative management measures. Most of ICES advice is recurrent advice on fisheries and environmental issues. ICES is committed to continually improving the efficiency and efficacy of this core activity, and ensuring that quality of its advice is consistent with best practices. Efficiency: The ICES advisory process will aim to use the available expertise in the most cost-effective way to deliver the required advice. One approach to finding efficiencies within the process is to continue to explore options for multiannual evaluations of management measures. ACOM will streamline the production of recurrent advice and will explore possibilities for reducing the frequency of advice updates. Stock structure will also be examined to determine if efficiencies could be realized by combining small stocks that are currently treated as separate stocks. 28

29 ICES Advice Plan Advisory efficiencies will also be realized through an improved capacity within the Secretariat to support the advisory process, and the development and introduction of new tools for (a) coordinating and harmonizing the use of scientific experts (Resource Coordination Tool), and (b) data handling and report production (Content Administration for Reports and Advice). Efficacy: ICES advice will meet the needs of new fisheries and environmental management approaches, such as multiannual management plans and spatial management. Impacts of fishing, both direct and indirect, will be assessed and advice provided wherever possible and requested. Resources will also be invested in further developing advice to support environmental policies. Quality assurance: The benchmarking and the auditing of recurrent advice will continue. Data and report management will be further streamlined to more clearly document data and analyses, and the process from data input to final advice made less error-prone and more transparent. Access to the data used in developing and providing the ICES advice is core to advice efficiency, efficacy, and quality. Examples of initiatives addressing data access include close communication with those responsible for the collection of data, development of guidelines and protocols for best practices of statistically-sound data collection programmes, promotion of efficient data storage through regional databases, and implementation of integrated surveys. Such initiatives are detailed in the Data and Information Plan. ACOM is developing an approach to provide advice for fish stocks lacking analytical assessments. ACOM will provide recurrent advice for these stocks, and further develop methods for using risk-based approaches for groups of species in a geographic area. ACOM will also derive reference points (precautionary and, where possible, MSY-consistent) for data-limited stocks. 29

30 Responding to the evolving policy context and to non-recurring special requests on fisheries, aquaculture, and environmental issues, such as the provision of precautionary and MSY-consistent advice, advice on mixed fisheries taking account of biological interactions, advice on aquaculture environmental interactions, and advice on implementation of environmental directives. fisheries management plans and measures, the identity, distribution and migration of stocks, data collection schemes, and understanding of various factors affecting the utility of an assessment and finding ways to improve this situation. Increasingly, non-recurrent requests relate to ecosystem issues (e.g. the impact of fisheries on marine ecosystems; the implementation of certain aspects of environmental policies etc.). In addition to providing recurrent advice for fisheries and environmental management, ICES responds to non-recurrent advice requests ( special requests ) received on an almost continuous basis from competent authorities, including Member Countries. ICES is also required to respond to requests related to new or renewed management policies, such as the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the MSFD for the European Union. The non-recurrent advice issues above are core areas of ICES advice and will continue to addressed and developed. The ad hoc nature and short-time frames which typically characterize non-recurrent requests challenge the ICES system. ICES will implement a Resource Coordination Tool to better manage and harmonize workloads and determine priority issues so that non-recurrent responses are provided within agreed deadlines. Non-recurrent requests often relate to fisheries issues, such as the development and evaluation of Two overarching advisory issues facing ICES are the provision of combined mixed fisheries (technical 30

31 ICES Advice Plan interactions) advice and providing multispecies advice (e.g. competition and predation). Developing these forms of advice, underpinned by sound science, will be a major undertaking in ICES, and ACOM is expected to provide elements of this advice for different ecoregions over the period. Specific challenges in providing combined mixed fisheries and multispecies advice are: Promoting the use and delivery of integrated advice in an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries and environmental management, such as integrated ecosystem assessments, providing guidance on how to maintain or improve good environmental status, and advice on ecosystem health and productivity that considers drivers such as climate change and various maritime activities. Developing the framework and format for precautionary and MSY-consistent advice, consonant with what is most appropriate in each situation; Developing the required scientific knowledge and data to support the advice (given that detailed data are generally required for mixed fisheries advice; a general lack of current data on multispecies interactions; and a need to develop models in some ecoregions); Organizing appropriate fora with competent authorities and stakeholders for developing and discussing mixed fisheries and multispecies advice and for identifying appropriate ways of communicating such advice so that its nature and implications are properly understood. ACOM will undertake an evaluation to assess what aspects of the already available science are sufficient to develop mixed fisheries and multispecies advice, and what areas of science need further development before they can inform such advice. Joint work with SCICOM, particularly through the Integrated Ecosystem Assessments Steering Group and the Benchmarking Steering Group, will be critical in assessing knowledge gaps. Given diminishing fiscal and expert resources, these developments will only be possible if workload is reduced in other areas of the advisory process (recurrent advice) or if new (human) resources are added. ACOM will support the implementation of an ecosystem approach to the management of human activities at sea by translating its ecosystem understanding into an integrated framework for the provision of advice. Advice will be consistent with the precautionary approach and based on the best available understanding of the properties and behaviour of key system components and processes. As with advice on single-stock dynamics, a lack of total knowledge and complete certainty should not be used to hamper decision-making. ICES will promote an adaptive and responsive approach to the inclusion of ecosystem considerations in management advice. ACOM will produce integrated ecosystem assessments for at least three regions. These demonstration assessments will provide the basis for dialogue with policy developers and stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities offered by an integrated approach. ICES will ensure that its advice on fisheries accounts for gear impacts on sensitive habitats, and also for the incidental bycatch of sharks, rays, sea mammals, and seabirds. In partnership with regional sea conventions, ICES will further develop ecosystem overviews to highlight the dominant anthropogenic pressures and impacts across the ICES area. These overviews will describe for managers the implications of environmental variability in regional marine ecosystems. This will allow consideration of changes in productivity and distribution of key organisms and habitats in assessing the trade-offs involved in the management of human activities at sea. 31

32 Through the development of new internal mechanisms, ACOM will improve the incorporation of process understanding in the ICES advice. This will be accomplished through a new joint ACOM/SCICOM Benchmarking Steering Group 2. Benchmarking is already common practice when carrying out stock assessments, but ICES will further develop the concept and practice to tackle broader questions such as the development of integrated advice, examining shifts in productivity of marine systems, and the possible ramifications of climate change. ACOM will develop improved mechanisms to increase participation in the advisory process of ACOM members and alternates possessing environmental and ecosystem expertise. ACOM will continue to work with partners (i.e., the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC), the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM), and the European Environment Agency (EEA)) on the provision of advice for the implementation, review, and potential revision of the MSFD of the EU, including advice on biodiversity issues. This process will add value to any prospective parallel developments in non-eu countries. The exploration of the use of indicators to inform management action (and the concepts of Good Environmental Status) will continue to drive the activities of ICES in the years ahead. When requested, ICES will also evaluate and provide advice on the economic and social consequences of management options. Working with strategic partners, ACOM will continue to provide advice on marine spatial planning and to develop advice on integrated management of maritime activities, including reviewing management measures for conservation objectives. This includes advice on vulnerable marine ecosystems, marine protected areas, and Natura 2000 sites. ICES will strive to ensure that this advice is integrated, accounting for associated advice on fisheries and on the marine ecosystem. Ensuring quality assurance, transparency, and political neutrality so that users and stakeholders have confidence in the advice. This will involve dialogue and collaborations with managers and stakeholders at both regional and international levels. It is important for ICES to ensure the credibility of its advice and for stakeholders to have confidence in ICES advisory products. ACOM will ensure efficient use of resources and quality assurance by developing new systems and tools. These will include tools to ensure efficient, clear, and non-conflicting production of advice by managing both workloads (ICES Resource Coordination Tool, RCT) and the production of the content of the ICES advice (Content Administration for Reports and Advice, CARA). These systems and tools will be supported by technical input from Secretariat staff. To improve data collection and use, ACOM will encourage expert groups to identify data needs and promote the use of regional databases for the data used in their assessments. The transparency of data provision, data use, and the associated end products will also be improved. ACOM expert groups will be expected to conduct audits of their data requirements and methods used to ensure the quality and reliability of the resultant ICES advice. To meet the data requirements for providing integrated advice, ACOM will, in cooperation with SCICOM and Data and Information Services (DIS), contribute to the development of integrated ecosystem monitoring. To develop the scope of the advice, ACOM will arrange Dialogue Meetings with advice recipients and stakeholders. These meetings will address the 32 2 A benchmark is a process in which all underlying data, knowledge, and methodologies and approaches are examined to provide the most robust and credible advice. The results of benchmarks are peer reviewed.

33 ICES Advice Plan needs of recipients for advice products, and provide demonstration examples of new advice approaches to promote an exchange of ideas on the nature of the advice. Demonstration examples will address issues such as integrated assessment advice, process understanding as a basis for the development of advice, and social and economic implications of different management scenarios and options. ACOM will improve the quality of the ICES advice by continuing to invest in the training of experts and expert group chairs. Transparency and independence are central to ICES advice, particularly when operating in a participatory and responsive manner with stakeholders. Training will be provided on how to chair a meeting. ICES will also continue to offer training courses to facilitate and enhance communications between the ICES community and stakeholders/policy developers. ACOM, with support from the ICES Secretariat, will improve the communication and dissemination of ICES advice to clients/management authorities, stakeholders, and the public using press releases, social media, specific events, the Popular advice digest, and other types of outreach. 33

34 Annex 2 Actions and associated performance measurement of the advice plan CATEGORY ACTION RESPONSIBLE ACTOR(S) 1. Deliver relevant, timely, and credible advice. Implement MoUs with advice recipients. ACOM 2. Foster efficient use of resources and quality assurance. Implement the Resource Coordination Tool (RCT) and prioritize resource use. ICES Secretariat ACOM Further explore and implement, where appropriate multiannual evaluations of management measures (the state of the stock), for the provision of annual advice. ACOM leadership with recipients of advice (e.g. MIRIA) Relevant expert groups Enhance substantive support by the ICES Secretariat to the advisory process. Implement the CARA system: automate the process of transferring assessment results from the assessment software to the advisory sheets, including standard graphs. ICES Secretariat Expert groups ACOM Conduct internal audits of data, input, and assessment results for all advice-providing expert groups. Expert groups 34

35 ICES Advice Plan TIMING INDICATOR PERFORMANCE MEASURE RELEVANT TO SUPPORTING ACTIVITY NO Deliver advice in accordance with MoUs. Advice recipients satisfied with the advice. 1, Tool is available for use. % of ICES countries providing full data for RCT. Available 90% 1 Priority list developed. Completion 2015 % of stocks explored. 95% 1 Technical tasks. Uptake in the advisory process. 1, 2, 3, 4 Feedback from EG chairs (start in late 2014) % of stocks where CARA is used in the production of advice. 95% 1, % of groups conducting internal audits. 99% 4 35

36 CATEGORY ACTION RESPONSIBLE ACTOR(S) 3. Improved data collection and use. Coordinate and integrate surveys. ACOM SCICOM Develop guidelines for best practice in design and implementation of statistically sound catch sampling schemes. ACOM Identify the data required to provide advice on fisheries and environmental issues and communicate the requirements to those responsible for the collection of data. ACOM Expert groups ICES Secretariat Promote efficient and effective data storage through integration of data in regional databases, including making data available for experts through InterCatch. ACOM ICES Data Centre 4. Develop scope of advice. Provide advice in relation to the changing policy environment. Facilitate transition to a new regime, new data, ecosystem impacts, and fisheries opportunities. ACOM SCICOM Further develop/implement methodoogies, which entails establishment of indicators and targets for all stocks, including data-limited stocks (DLS). ACOM WKLIFE Relevant expert groups 36

37 ICES Advice Plan TIMING INDICATOR PERFORMANCE MEASURE RELEVANT TO SUPPORTING ACTIVITY NO Guidelines for conducting surveys. 100% 1, Guidelines made available. 100% 1, List of data requirements. 100% 1, 2, 3, % of stock using the regional databases for assessments. Establish, seek financing, and implement a project with the participation of all institutes having a data collection mandate. 90% 1, 2, 3, Fully integrated to the advice. 100% 1, % of stocks where advice follows the guidelines. 95% 1, 2 % of category 1 and 2 stocks for which indicators and targets are available. 95% % of DLS for which indicators are available. 70% Stock coordinator and benchmarking resources provided. > 95% 2014 Establishment of the Global Assessment Methods WG (GAME). In place 37

38 CATEGORY ACTION RESPONSIBLE ACTOR(S) Provide advice taking account of technical interactions in each mixed fishery, as well as biological interactions between stocks, such as predation and competition, in each ecoregion, per an established schedule (Annex 3), including a link with social and economic aspects when possible. ACOM SCICOM Further develop capacity for provision of advice for emerging human activities in the Arctic: ACOM SCICOM (a) taking into account ecosystem considerations; monitor stock distributions into the Arctic region, (b) data requirements and monitoring needs in the Arctic. Identify advisory needs for aquaculture and its environmental aspects. ACOM leadership Integrate considerations of bycatch in the advice for fisheries (including elasmobranchs, mammals, and seabirds). ACOM SCICOM Integrate considerations of impacts of sensitive habitats in the advice for fisheries. ACOM SCICOM Prepare methodologies and examples of impact assessments of management measures that account for environmental variability and social and economic trade-offs. ACOM SCICOM 38

39 ICES Advice Plan TIMING INDICATOR PERFORMANCE MEASURE RELEVANT TO SUPPORTING ACTIVITY NO % of mixed fishery and multispecies advice completed on time. 90% 1, Number of advisory products provided /Spring Conduct a workshop. Uptake of recommendations Discussion of needs with users of ICES advice. 80% 2 Number of aquaculture advice requests % of fisheries advice sheets that include bycatch considerations. > 70 2, % of fisheries advice sheets that include habitat considerations. > 70 (where seabed interactions have been identified). 2, Expert group established to develop two examples (such as the interaction between pelagic & demersal fisheries; trade-offs in closed areas, and mammal/bird predation impacts) for presentation and discussion at an ICES Dialogue Meeting Complete. 2, 3 39

40 CATEGORY ACTION RESPONSIBLE ACTOR(S) Include discussion on social and economic analysis needs of users of advice in an ICES Dialogue Meeting. ACOM leadership Facilitate transition from single-stock benchmarks to regional benchmarks. ACOM/SCICOM Benchmarking Steering Group Further develop ecosystem overviews on regional scales. ACOM SCICOM Provide advice on marine spatial planning, including management measures for achieving objectives for marine protected areas, such as Natura 2000 sites. ACOM (WGECO) SCICOM Develop a mechanism for promoting integrated ecosystem understanding as the basis of ICES advice. ACOM SCICOM ACOM/SCICOM Benchmark Steering Group WGECO WGIPEM In cooperation with the Member Countries and regional seas organizations, develop integrated ecosystem assessments for the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Barents Sea for use in advice. ACOM SCICOM Provide examples of how these integrated ecosystem assessments can be used in advice. 40

41 ICES Advice Plan TIMING INDICATOR PERFORMANCE MEASURE RELEVANT TO SUPPORTING ACTIVITY NO % of users of ICES advice providing feedback on needs. 80% 2, Complete guidelines for benchmarks on issues other than stock assessment. Complete % of ICES regions for which ecosystem overviews have been prepared. 90% 3 % of regional overviews referenced in management policy documents and decisions (uptake). 80% Provide demonstration examples and discuss with strategic partners. 100% 3 Provide advice according to requests. 100% Addressed in benchmarks. >4 3, Demonstration examples, such as zooplankton-pelagic fish interactions, cod growth in the Baltic. > Integrated ecosystem assessments for the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Barents Sea. Ready in 2016 for an ICES Dialogue Meeting. 3, Provision of example advice based on two demonstration IEAs. Ready for use in the Dialogue Meeting Convene an ICES Dialogue Meeting with recipients of advice. Useful for managers in relation to their policy frameworks. 41

42 CATEGORY ACTION RESPONSIBLE ACTOR(S) 5. Develop process and communication. Further develop the capacity of the ICES community and the stakeholders/policy developers to facilitate their interaction and dialogue as well as involvement in the advisory process. ACOM PUBCOM Benchmarking Steering Group Communicate advisory products to the public. ICES Secretariat PUBCOM Communicate the advice through meetings with competent authorities and stakeholders. ACOM leadership Support existing expert group chairs and potential future chairs to ensure they have the necessary skills (e.g. training, etc.). ICES Training Programme ACOM Existing chairs 42

43 ICES Advice Plan TIMING INDICATOR PERFORMANCE MEASURE RELEVANT TO SUPPORTING ACTIVITY NO. Training courses Number of presentations of ICES advice. Maintain average of Deliver training or mentoring to expert chairs. 20 people per year, including current chairs. 4 43

44 Annex 3 Schedule for taking into account technical and biological interactions in fisheries advice ECOREGION TECHNICAL INTERACTIONS ( MIXED FISHERY ) BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS ( MULTISPECIES ) Norwegian Sea NA 2013 Barents Sea NA (cod-capelin), 2014 > entire ecosystem North Sea Baltic Sea NA 2012 Pelagics NA 2014 Deep sea NA NA Biscay Iberia Celtic seas Greenland/Faroe Islands 2011 (Faroes) 2014 Iceland NA

45 ICES Advice Plan 45

46 ICES Data and Information Plan The Strategic Plan identifies two goals under the Data and Information pillar of ICES: Promote the advancement of data and information services for science and advice needs (Goal 4); Catalyse best practices in marine data management, and promote the ICES data nodes as a global resource (Goal 5). operational products for marine spatial planning, the Data Collection Framework, and for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive; Gearing up for new/expanding areas of dataset collections, such as new datasets from integrated ecosystem monitoring, including marine litter, and anthropogenic noise in the marine environment; ICES will achieve the Data and Information goals through three supporting activities: Promoting the advancement of data and information services for science and advice needs at both regional and subregional levels, such as providing Ensuring the use of international standards/interoperability to enable the use and application of ICES datasets, products, and services to an expanded international user base, and to provide tools and knowledge to facilitate this use. 46

47 ICES Data and Information Plan ICES Core Values as Operating Principles Products The ICES mission Science on ecosystem pressures & impacts Integrated ecosystem assessments Science on ecosystem dynamics and processes Benchmarking Operationalization Operationalization Benchmarking Single issue advice Integrated advice Knowledge, communication & science Data To advance the scientific understanding of marine ecosystems, and provide information, knowledge, and advice on the sustainable management of human activities affecting, and affected by, marine ecosystems. Integrated ecosystem monitoring & international data platform Ensuring an efficient & effective organization The Data and Information Plan identifies a number of short- and medium-term activities. The plan explicitly takes account of the resources available to ICES to deliver on these activities, and provides a means to measure the effectiveness of the plan s implementation. The plan further specifies a review and adjustment process. Together, these elements will help to ensure that the Data and Information Plan remains a relevant and effective tool to guide ICES data and information services during Policy drivers MSFD, DCF, INSPIRE, ISO ICES network EGs, SCICOM, ACOM Data Landscape International coordination FAO, IODE, EUROSTAT Regional Partners OSPAR, HELCOM, EEA, AMAP, EU Data infrastructures EMODnet, EDAMIS, RDB, NODCs, National data networks 47

48 THE IMPORTANCE OF DATA SERVICES TO THE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF MARINE ECOSYSTEMS (THE DATA CONTEXT) The foundation of all accumulated knowledge and understanding of the marine environment is based on observations. Observing the marine ecosystem entails capturing information through various means of measuring, weighing, photographing, counting, etc. Most of these observations are archived as digital data stored in a table, database, or other repository. To extract information and develop knowledge from these observations, it is essential that the data can be combined in different temporal, spatial, and thematic ways. By doing so, scientists are able to observe new patterns and behaviours in marine ecosystems involving, for example, the circulation of ocean currents or the migration of seabirds. The ecosystem approach places a high demand on the complexity and quantity of data and the requisite knowledge for making informed science and management decisions. Therefore ICES must have the capacity for developing and managing data services that deliver increasingly complex data and information in effective and useful ways to the users of these data. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DATA AND INFORMATION PLAN Goal 4: Promote the advancement of data and information services for science and advice needs The Data and Information Plan examines the provision of regional workflows for the coordination of data collection, data collation, and data product/indicator production as agreed (including reporting timelines) with partners and stakeholders. The plan envisages collaborations between the ICES Data Centre, Regional Sea Conventions, and national data originators. The plan supports the establishment of integrated ecosystem observation and monitoring systems that enable coordinated data collection addressing scientific and advisory needs, and which have strong links with the ICES Data Centre and national data centres. Developing new processes/products from existing data is also important to serve both MSFD and Data Collection Framework (DCF) needs for advisory and science services. This will entail furnishing indicator values in collaboration with the relevant ICES working groups, and also automating data acquisition (e.g. data calls that provide information directly into regional data assembly mechanisms with minimal use of human effort). ICES will ensure that the production of its advice and science is managed within a robust IT business model. In part, this will involve use of the Content Administration for Reports and Advice (CARA) tool, a major feature of the Data and Information Plan. See Regional facilitation in Annex 4. Gearing up for new/expanding areas of dataset collections, such as new datasets from integrated ecosystem monitoring, including marine litter, and anthropogenic noise in the marine environment. Promoting the advancement of data and information services for science and advice needs on both regional and subregional levels, such as providing operational products for marine spatial planning, the Data Collection Framework, and for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. New datasets and products are being/will be requested under the MSFD. To ensure that ICES advisory and science services are responsive to these requests, Data and Information Services (DIS) will continually review and evaluate data inventories, new data assemblies, and working arrangements to ensure the timely 48

49 ICES Data and Information Plan provision of high-quality regional data products. This will also apply to such areas as underwater noise, microplastics, and acoustics (fish). DIS will also collaborate with the Publications and Communications Group (PUBCOM) to ensure that ICES has a common strategy toward using and providing digital citation resources. See Regional facilitation, data stewardship and data management in Annex 4. Goal 5: Catalyse best practices in marine data management, and promote the ICES data nodes as a global resource Ensuring the use of international standards/ interoperability to enable the use and application of ICES datasets, products, and services to an expanded international user base, and to provide tools and knowledge to facilitate this use. All ICES datasets and data services, including datasets and data products that exist only within an expert group, will be adequately described to facilitate the discovery of information through ICES online portals. This will allow ICES Member Countries (and others) to draw on these services for their own reporting needs (e.g., under MSFD). Plans for training and reference guides for scientists and data managers will also be developed. These guides will highlight the value of good data management to the ICES community. See International standards, knowledge transfer in Annex 4. DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICES (DIS) RESOURCES ICES Data Centre ICES Data Centre, based in the ICES Secretariat, manages a number of large dataset collections related to the marine environments of the Northeast Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea. These collections are organized around specific thematic data portals, and are also archived in an overarching data warehouse. Most of the data originate from the national institutes of ICES Member Countries. The data centre provides marine data services to ICES Member Countries, ICES expert groups, world data centres, regional sea conventions (HELCOM and 49

50 OSPAR), the European Environment Agency (EEA), Eurostat, and various other European projects and biodiversity portals. DIG is able to react quickly to ad hoc requests from inside and outside the ICES community. SCICOM and ACOM are both represented in DIG. All data managed by ICES are subject to the ICES data policy 3, which aims to maximize the availability of data to the ICES network and the international marine community. Data and Information Group (DIG) DIG provides ICES with advice on all aspects of data management including data policy, data strategy, data quality, technical issues, and user-oriented guidance. A close link exists between DIG and the ICES Data Centre, as DIG supports the data centre with feedback and advice on a number of topics, including existing products, current developments, potential new products, the risk of data duplication, and the evaluation of the data checklists. DIG provides advice and guidance across multiple disciplines on data and information. Expertise is provided on spatial/oceanographic/vms/biological data, as well as on metadata, vocabularies, user guidance, and quality control. As needed, DIG initiates study groups, workshops, expert groups, and training courses on specific topics. Projects and contracts ICES has a well-established project policy 4 that ensures that ICES participation is relevant to both the individual project work and wider activity of ICES, and that contracts are fairly administered in competitive tenders. A list of current project participation is available on the link provided in the footnote. ICES has a number of key data contracts related to regional sea commissions (i.e., OSPAR and HELCOM), as well as with the European Environment Agency (EEA) through the European Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine waters (ETC-ICM). These interactions informed the development of the Data and Information Plan. REVIEW AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Each activity outlined in the Data and Information Plan has a related performance measure, and an associated timetable indicating when that activity is scheduled to occur. This makes clear what activities need to be reviewed and evaluated, and how to judge the performance effectiveness of these activities. WHO PROVIDING WHAT DELIVERY Contextual ICES Bureau/ Council Member Countries representation Strategic plan Strategic plan Conceptual DIG Thematic expertise representation Goals 4 and 5 of Strategic plan, Data and Information Plan Product list/ overview Operational Data Centre Technical implementation Data and Information Plan; annual work plan Web-based applications and data products

51 ICES Data and Information Plan Plan ownership and governance ICES Council has oversight responsibility for the content and direction of the ICES Strategic Plan. DIG and the ICES Data Centre are jointly responsible for the Data and Information Plan that addresses the data collection and information management aspects of the Strategic Plan. Both SCICOM and ACOM are represented on DIG and therefore have contributed to developing the Data and Information Plan. Plan review and update The following outlines the processes that will be used in reviewing and evaluating the Data and Information Plan. These activities are expressed at an operational level via the annual work plan of the data centre, as well as in the annual DIG actions list. These are then linked to formal recommendations from expert groups and ICES committees, as well as to other external review mechanisms related to data contracts and projects. The work plan also contains linkages to the ICES Strategic Plan to clearly indicate how the operational activities relate to the overall strategy. The work plan includes performance indicators, which are reviewed by the data centre. After the work plan is reviewed by the data entre and DIG, the plan is subsequently reviewed by both SCICOM and ACOM. A high-level review report will then be presented to the Bureau and Council at least annually. WHEN WHO WHAT TASK January Data Centre (with input from SCICOM/ACOM recommendations) Data centre annual work plan Evaluate performance of previous work plan and for current years plan to ensure alignment with strategic plan February Bureau Data centre annual work plan Data and Information Plan review Evaluate performance of previous work plan Align Data and Information Plan text with strategic plan Feedback to The Science and Policy Landscape in which ICES operates May DIG Operational group full meeting Review of Data and Information Plan and update September SCICOM/ACOM SCICOM/ACOM meeting Feedback to/review of the Data and Information Plan September DIG DIG business meeting Update Data and Information Plan according to feedback from SCICOM/ACOM When required DIG/Data Centre Dedicated subgroup WebEx meetings 51

52 Annex 4 Data and Information plan implementation (detailed) REGIONAL FACILITATION HEADLINE ACTION DETAIL PERFORMANCE MEASURE Regional operational products for Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and Data Collection Framework (DCF) (a) MSFD workflow: Collaboration between ICES Data Centre and Regional Sea Conventions/ other organizations with respect to MSFD (WISE-Marine production process). This assumes a good flow of data/data harvesting into the data centre, and this can imply more resources in certain data types where data are not readily provided. (a) Workflow(s) operational and ready for uptake into WISE-Marine. (b) Joint paper strategy accepted by stakeholders at EU level. (b) Leading to a joint MSFD data flow vision paper. Also depends on WISE-Marine. Link to Secretariat Plan. New processes/products from existing data within Advisory and Science groups with respect to MSFD: calculations for indicators. Needed: data selections, algorithms, calculation examples. Challenge: who is going to decide on the final calculations and data selections? Workshop on MSFD related DC-MAP indicators. Refer to table (MSFD table of ICES data/egs and their operational product linkage). (a) Uptake of ICES dataset products in EGs responsible for MSFD indicators. (b) Operational provision of datasets, including discovery and download services. New datasets and products Advisory and Science: MSFD master data holdings; data storage, calculations for indicators. Noise, microplastics, acoustic fish data (WGFAST). Needed: data collection guidelines, data, responsible EGs for data, algorithms, calculation. Products and/or regional data management established (where mandate is given). 52

53 ICES Data and Information Plan Key to colour coding in Resource implications columns of table: Indicates the action can be accommodated within planned demands on resources Indicates the action can be accommodated but may place additional demands on planned resources Indicates the action can be accommodated only if additional resources are planned for RESOURCE IMPLICATION TIME FRAME DATA CENTRE DIG OTHER (a) OSPAR Hazardous substances: milestone 2014 (b) HELCOM Eutrophication: milestone 2014 (c) OSPAR Eutrophication (2015) This assumes a good flow of data/data harvesting into the data centre, and this can imply more resources in certain data types where data are not readily provided. (d) MSFD Data vision paper: 2014 Fish and litter time frame: for development, and fine-tuning from 2016 onwards 2015 for setup, implementation from 2016 onwards Depending on the level of ambition regarding establishing new international datasets and systems, additional resources may be required. 53

54 REGIONAL FACILITATION HEADLINE ACTION DETAIL PERFORMANCE MEASURE Data requirements with regard to multispecies assessments (input for assessments). Currently, multispecies assessments are applied in e.g. the Baltic, but insufficient spatial data products are available. Baltic, other areas. (Action plan to be created). Needed: clear data request (unless no data are available). (a) Successful data call(s); (b) Provision of spatial data products. Data requirements for e.g. one species from all fish surveys (WGEF, WGNEW); search facility over all data, not only for raw data but also for products. (joint WGEF, WGNEW, DIG proposal action DIG chair). End-to-end workflow for scientific advice production CARA linking to data outputs from Expert groups (connecting the scientific reports to advice production). Successful implementation of interfaces to: a) scientific output from EG reports; b) scientific output from assessment models. CARA linking to data outputs from RDB-Fishframe. Successful implementation of interfaces to scientific output from assessment models. Mobilizing aquaculture specific data Aquaculture databases: exact description to be decided. Related to WGAQUA. Products and/or regional data management established (where mandate is given). Mobilizing Arctic-specific data In cooperation with AMAP, getting data from small Arctic research institutes. Implementing data formatting tool. Milestone: implementing the tool, first half of Performance measure: receiving data. 54

55 ICES Data and Information Plan RESOURCE IMPLICATION TIME FRAME DATA CENTRE DIG OTHER Baltic: Workshop in 2014 to list product requirements Workshop participation and follow-up. Starting 2014 (depends on timing of CARA development) Volume of activity on CARA would require additional technical resources Dependent on progress in development (and funding) of RDB-FishFrame. Dependent on progress in development (and funding) of RDB-FishFrame. Starting from 2014 Depending on the level of ambition regarding new datasets and systems, additional resources may be required. Depending on the level of ambition regarding new datasets and systems, additional resources may be required. Starting 2014 A higher level of technical support/ guidance could be anticipated. 55

56 INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND INTEROPERABILITY HEADLINE ACTION DETAIL PERFORMANCE MEASURE Ensuring INSPIRE readiness for ICES managed datasets/ data services Describe and make available all ICES/ICES expert group managed datasets, data products or services through ISO/INSPIRE standards to allow their discovery and reuse by other expert groups, processes and member country activities. All ICES datasets, including those that exist only within an expert group, are adequately described and facilitate the discovery of information through the ICES online portals. Encouraging the broader use of ICES datasets by implementing IODE quality flagging schema Building on the quality control database that is in the process of being populated and then exposing this to online users in a digestible way to make the linkage between type of data, type(s) of QC performed and the QC flags applied to the data. (a) QC database online; (b) QC flags included in data downloads. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HEADLINE ACTION DETAIL PERFORMANCE MEASURE Input to key data symposia and science meetings Data theme sessions (ASC, IMDIS, etc.): annual theme session proposal ASC by DIG (a) Presentation and promotion of ICES work at key events; (b) requests for new services/projects resulting from those activities. Training and reference guides for scientists and data managers (a) ICES training courses: Making the most of ICES Data, modular, webinars? (b) Online materials and guidance: WKIDG in (a) Metrics on usage of reference materials; (b) requests for new services/ projects resulting from reference materials/training; (c) increased awareness of data management/ices services in new sectors. 56

57 ICES Data and Information Plan RESOURCE IMPLICATION TIME FRAME DATA CENTRE DIG OTHER Request to EGs to be filled 2015 Some additional guidance and tools will be needed. ICES expert groups will need to incorporate this into their work RESOURCE IMPLICATION TIME FRAME DATA CENTRE DIG OTHER (a) IMDIS runs in 2015, 2017 (b) ASC annual cycle (a) Training: end 2017 Leading workshop (b) Workshop to produce reference guide in 2014 (WKIDG, proposed) 57

58 DATA STEWARDSHIP AND DATA MANAGEMENT HEADLINE ACTION DETAIL PERFORMANCE MEASURE Data mining and data recovery; identifying and making available datasets that are relevant to the marine community (a) Benthic historical data recovery. Plan ready, no time frame. Connected to BEWG, DGMARE (DC-MAP related), perhaps EMODnet biology? (b) Legacy data: data that are in other systems, but not available to the wider world. Linking to other data archives i.e. through metadata; (c) other historical data. (a) Inclusion of pilot project in EMODnet biology; (b) providing discovery services for archived information (through EGs); (c) where resource, to run data recovery projects. Ensuring ICES data are citeable in the digital age, and therefore making the datasets easier to discover Digital data citation and publication: ensuring ICES data are citeable in the digital age, and ensuring contributing data sources are duly credited, as well as guiding the ICES Member Countries on how to approach digital citation. Creating a strategy for digital citation of data resources, in agreement with PUBCOM. Maintaining the user rights, security and integrity of the data sources to ICES-managed datasets (a) Data policy, facilitation of rights issues; (b) Data security, and implications if data portfolio changes in nature (i.e. VMS, VME etc.). 58

59 ICES Data and Information Plan RESOURCE IMPLICATION TIME FRAME DATA CENTRE DIG OTHER (a) Start 2014 (b) follow-on from INSPIRE readiness activity Historical data recovery will require additional resources/ funding and this may be possible in part through EMODnet biology Annual basis,

60 ICES Secretariat Plan The Strategic Plan identifies two goals under the Secretariat pillar of ICES: 3. Organizing and supporting the resource planning and coordination of network activities; Foster the science, the advisory, and the data and information services through the work of the Secretariat (Goal 6); Ensure an efficient and effective organization (Goal 7). ICES will achieve the Secretariat goals through four supporting activities: 1. Securing the needed resources for the ICES Secretariat to support ICES science, advisory services, data processes and products, and for publications and communications; 2. Implementing effective tools and efficient process flows to streamline work processes and enhance the delivery of products; 4. Fostering cooperation and communication with Member Countries, partner organizations, stakeholders, and society. TOWARDS AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION The ICES Secretariat is the central hub of the organization, supporting resource planning and coordination of the ICES activities branch, thereby ensuring an efficient and effective organization that adds value. The Secretariat will continue to facilitate and support the work carried out under the ICES Convention and Copenhagen Declaration by parties and stakeholders, employing the highest standards of professionalism and competence. 60

61 ICES Secretariat Plan ICES Core Values as Operating Principles Science on ecosystem pressures & impacts Products The ICES mission Integrated ecosystem assessments Science on ecosystem dynamics and processes Benchmarking Operationalization Operationalization Benchmarking Single issue advice Integrated advice Knowledge, communication & science Data To advance the scientific understanding of marine ecosystems, and provide information, knowledge, and advice on the sustainable management of human activities affecting, and affected by, marine ecosystems. Integrated ecosystem monitoring & international data platform Ensuring an efficient & effective organization Under each of the supporting activities, ICES Secretariat will carry out the following: Securing the needed resources for the ICES Secretariat to support ICES science, advisory services, data processes and services, and for publications and communications. ICES depends on the contributions of Member Countries as well as income from advisory services and projects, to finance its work. Two of the core responsibilities of the Secretariat are providing support to the Finance Committee to monitor the budget, and ensuring that sufficient resources are available to accomplish ICES goals. Resources are also required for administrative, expert, and technical capacity to successfully implement the associated plans of science, advice, and data and information. The Secretariat works to ensure that this capacity is available, both on staff and within the ICES expert network. The ICES training programme helps to ensure that appropriate competences are available. Internships, post-doctoral positions, and secondments to the Secretariat are other means to strengthen ICES work and provide technical expertise. To support an effective organization and utilization of expertise and infrastructure in the ICES network, the Secretariat facilitates coordination, focuses on priority issues, avoids duplication of effort, and promotes approaches where expectations are harmonized with the available resources. The Secretariat also interfaces with scientific groups and organizations, identifies important financing mechanisms and fosters participation in strategic 61

62 projects that support the aims of the ICES Strategic Plan. These efforts benefit all Member Countries and also promote the involvement of new partners (e.g. academia) in ICES work. Implementing effective tools and efficient process flows to streamline work processes and enhance the delivery of products. The Secretariat supports a strategic and substantive focus of ICES work by developing and implementing tools and process flows which enable governing bodies and experts to address strategic issues requiring high-level scientific expertise. In cooperation with SCICOM, ACOM, and Data and Information Services, the Secretariat will identify areas where new tools should be developed and implemented to enhance the work, efficiency, and inter-linkages of the organization. One example is the Content Administration for Reports and Advice (CARA) tool, which will afford greater access to data and information across the ICES network and help streamline the production of expert group reports. The Secretariat will help transition ICES toward an integrated approach to marine science and policy by providing strategic inputs and by developing the additional technical capacity needed to accomplish this transition. Organizing and supporting the resource planning and coordination of network activities. Because ICES expert resources are not unlimited, it is important to establish priorities and identity and communicate resource constraints that could hamper work requiring expert participation. Under these circumstances, a transparent system that fosters cooperation and coordination between countries is essential for making best use of limited resources. Together with clients, stakeholders, and end-users, the ICES Secretariat will develop and implement a web interface (Resource Coordination Tool, RCT) for use by the ICES community, including Member 62

63 ICES Secretariat Plan Countries (e.g. institute directors and experts), advice recipients (e.g. intergovernmental organizations, EU, ICES Member Countries), and other organizations (such as STECF) that draw on the same pool of experts as ICES for their work. Fostering cooperation and communication with Member Countries and partner organizations, stakeholders, and society. Through regular communication and cooperation with Member Countries, the Secretariat will support, facilitate, implement, and improve the work of ICES, while simultaneously taking account of national and regional priorities. The Secretariat will cooperate with partner organizations having complementary aims and goals to facilitate the successful implementation of formal cooperation agreements. In this way, the Secretariat will promote the work and priorities of ICES and strengthen the role of the organization through its deliverables, outcomes, and other products. The Secretariat will strive to ensure that ICES is an open and transparent organization that welcomes stakeholder participation and contributions. Using the ICES website, social media, and other communication tools, the Secretariat will provide easy access to the latest ICES science and advisory information. The Secretariat will work assiduously to promote and enhance the visibility of ICES by demonstrating the relevance of ICES activities and accomplishments for society. In addition to the publication activities coordinated by SCICOM (which are primarily focused on the scientific community), the Secretariat will promote ocean literacy in the wider society by raising awareness about the work of ICES work in relation to human concerns and needs. This will be accomplished using a variety of external communication tools. The Secretariat will also develop internal operational procedures to ensure that all communications are efficiently produced and convey consistent information. All the actions outlined in the tables below will support the overall goals of the ICES Strategic Plan. 63

64 Annex 5 Goal 6: Foster the science, the advisory, and the data and information services through the work of the Secretariat ACTION RESPONSIBLE/LEAD Strategic support to the Council, Bureau, and the committees by provision of inputs regarding foresight of needs and options for development of science, scientific advice, and data. Interact with external networks and communicate scientific priorities. General Secretary, relevant Head of Programme, and professional staff. General Secretary, relevant Head of Programme, and professional staff. Increase the level of professional support across the ICES work plan to provide data compilation, and initial analysis for consideration to ensure best use of expert resources, inter alia, by strengthening the ecosystem profile in the Secretariat to support priority working areas identified in the ICES Strategic Plan. General Secretary, relevant Head of Programme, and professional staff and as capacity is made available by the development of new tools to streamline working procedures, with help from assisting secretaries. Projects interface with scientific groups and organizations, and identify and facilitate participation in strategic project work that supports the aims of the ICES Strategic Plan. Seek to link project work with participants from academia. General Secretary, Heads of Programmes, and professional project coordinator. 64

65 ICES Secretariat Plan CORE BUSINESS Provide a range of services and competencies for analysis and synthesis of information, as well as for compilation, analysis, and interpretation of data. Foster existing and potential collaboration with partners relevant to development of work in prioritized areas. DEADLINE PERFORMANCE MEASURE RELEVANT TO SUPPORTING ACTIVITY NO. In preparation of discussions in relevant ICES bodies Council, Bureau, and committees are provided with timely and relevant inputs regarding emerging science and advice needs and opportunities. 1, 2, 3,4 Ongoing Identification of new partners. Implementation through memoranda of understanding, letters of agreement, and strategic projects. In preparation and support of processes, including meetings as required During 2014, with the aim to start implementation by 2015 Professional Secretariat staff members provide initial data and analysis in advance of physical meetings to allow experts to focus on matters requiring their expertise. Pilot: Identify an appropriate process where support from the Secretariat would be useful. E.g. workshops under data collection. 1, 2, 3 Identify an appropriate re-assignment of tasks within the departments to ensure professional officers, and as appropriate assisting secretaries, support such pilot projects and aid more directly in the preparations for expert group meetings. Continuous Ensure that ICES is represented in project consortia (when requested) and that external projects support the work of ICES (especially within priority areas) by incorporation of outcomes in further work. 1, 4 65

66 Goal 7: Ensure an efficient and effective organization ACTION RESPONSIBLE/LEAD Facilitate effective and focused use of expert and infrastructure resources by making ongoing resource requirements transparent to national institute resource managers using the Resource Coordination Tool (RCT) General Secretary and Heads of Programmes Facilitate common access to ICES processes by developing work plans that draw on external resources readily available including the tasks, processes, and meetings General Secretary and Heads of Programmes Develop and improve the Training Programme and facilitate and test the online accessibility of the ICES Training Programme Science Programme Data and Information Services Develop and improve the Training Programme: reach out and engage with academia to widen target audiences Science Programme Publications facilitating the electronic dissemination, availability and visibility of the products of ICES processes including technical reports, scientific publications, and advice ICES Publications Editor Data and Information Services Further develop and implement the Content Administration for Reports and Advice (CARA) General Secretary and Heads of Programmes 66

67 ICES Secretariat Plan CORE BUSINESS Support, facilitate, and implement the tasks and decisions resulting from Council, Bureau, Finance Committee, SCICOM, ACOM, Expert Groups, Symposia, and the Annual Science Conference. The Secretariat foster a modern and fulfilling workplace. Finance monitor the budget and ensure resources are used as directed by Council. Prepare the draft and forecast budget for Council approval. Communications promote ocean literacy by making ICES work easily understandable to decision-makers, stakeholders, and the informed public. Publications Facilitate the publication of scientific results generated by the ICES network. DEADLINE PERFORMANCE MEASURE RELEVANT TO SUPPORTING ACTIVITY NO. Phased in during 2014, and ready for full implementation in 2015 Develop Resource Coordination Tool (RCT). 3 Planning phase starting 2013 Specific deliverables, during Tasks, processes, meetings, and participation are made available through a common access tool that facilitates external access and streamlines internal procedures Make one training course accessible via online participation. Additional resources required. 1, 2 End 2015 More training courses led jointly by academia (starting with e.g. DTU, Gothenburg, Lund, and WMU universities). 1, 4 End 2014 Create a strategy to move toward exclusive electronic dissemination of publications including an estimate of needed resources. 2, 4 Create a strategy to implement permanent digital traceable identities for all ICES documents and datasets. 2, 4 During 2014 Phased implementation to expert groups Uptake of the CARA tool in all expert groups. Full use of the CARA tool in the advisory process. 2 Beginning/during

68 ACTION RESPONSIBLE/LEAD Maintain and develop high quality meeting facilities at ICES headquarters, embracing new technologies Data and Information Services, maintenance technician Create communications that focus on prioritized areas as defined by the Strategic plan General Secretary, Communications programme, and professional staff - promote the work of the ICES community, and its relevance to society - make available various tools (ICES website, social media) for the ICES community to communicate their work Ensure that the Secretariat is able to respond to emerging science, advisory, and data needs with relevant professional competence, reviewed by Secretariat management General Secretary and Heads of Programmes 68

69 ICES Secretariat Plan DEADLINE PERFORMANCE MEASURE RELEVANT TO SUPPORTING ACTIVITY NO. Pilot during 2014 Continuous Pilot: One meeting room developed with best possible technology to facilitate online meeting participation. 1, 2 Based on the outcome of the pilot, begin wider implementation of improved online meeting facilities taking account of costs. Continuous ICES promotional video: During 2014 Linked to ICES deliverables and outcomes, create outreach material including a promotional ICES video. Maintain social media presence, and secure an increased use by the ICES community for presenting deliverables, outcomes, and as a discussion forum. Continuous System ready to respond to emerging science, advisory, and data needs. 1 69

70 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Conseil International pour l Exploration de la Mer H. C. Andersens Boulevard DK-1553 Copenhagen V Denmark Telephone (+45) Telefax (+45) info@ices.dk