North Pacific Marine Science Organization - PICES

08/21/2026

We’re pleased to share this recent publication from a PICES project, co-authored by PICES Executive Secretary Sonia Batten and other PICES members, examining mega-blooms of harmful algae in the Bering Sea using Continuous Plankton Recorder data.

The study highlights the value of long-term, sustained observations in detecting ecological change and improving our understanding of harmful algal blooms.

Read the publication: https://lnkd.in/gQsMG6fG

See more from the Marine Biological Association here: https://tinyurl.com/5ffy29rd

Scientists have uncovered new evidence that climate change is driving toxin-producing harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Pacific Arctic, raising concerns for

08/06/2026

Addressing today's marine challenges requires drawing on multiple knowledge systems.

Register now to join ICES/PICES Workshop on Indigenous Knowledge (WKIK) https://www.ices.dk/community/groups/Pages/WKIK.aspx to explore how Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and the Indigenous Peoples who hold these knowledges, can contribute to marine science, ecosystem assessments, and advisory processes through respectful and equitable collaboration.

📅2–4 November 2026
📍Membertou First Nation, Sydney, Cape Breton, Canada

WKIK will explore the foundations of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, share case studies from marine research and management, discuss Indigenous data sovereignty and governance, and develop practical guidance and recommendations to strengthen further work across ICES and PICES.

👥 Participation in this workshop is in-person only.
⏰The deadline to register is 1 September.

ℹ️Find out more https://www.ices.dk/community/groups/Pages/WKIK.aspx

💡Read more about ICES Framework for Ecosystem-Informed Science and Advice (FEISA), which explicitly recognises multiple sources of knowledge, including knowledge from scientists, stakeholders and Indigenous people https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.25266790

08/06/2026

Looking forward to this OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Centre global hybrid event—advancing our mission to provide actionable information on current and future ocean conditions and resources. A great chance for members and ECOPs to connect, share tools, exchange knowledge, and strengthen regional-to-global collaboration.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/bzr7vrbn

07/21/2026

The Summer 2026 Edition of PICES Press Has Arrived!

We're pleased to share the latest issue of PICES Press, celebrating the people, projects, partnerships, and achievements that continue to advance marine science throughout the North Pacific.

Inside, you'll find articles covering all aspects of marine science in the North Pacific, including research projects, program highlights, conference and event summaries, and more.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this edition, and happy summer reading!

📖Read the full issue:https://meetings.pices.int/publications/pices-press/PICES-Press-2026-Vol34No2.pdf

07/08/2026

🌊🌏 The Global Symposium on Fisheries Management in an Ecosystem Context (FIMEC 2027) is now open for abstract submissions and registration!

Taking place in Penang, Malaysia on 10-13 May 2027, FIMEC 2027 will bring together fisheries scientists, managers, practitioners, and stakeholders from around the world. More than a quarter-century after the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries became an explicit international framework, the symposium offers a place to take stock. FIMEC 2027 provides a timely opportunity to reflect on more than two decades of progress in ecosystem-oriented fisheries management. What has ecosystem-oriented fisheries management delivered in practice? Where has implementation stalled? And what must change over the next two decades?

The symposium will consider fisheries as complex social-ecological systems, including the interactions between fisheries and ecosystems, the wider seascapes in which they take place, and the ecological, social, cultural, economic, and governance conditions that shape management decisions.

These systems exist across every region of the world, often where data, capacity and resources are limited. The symposium aims to focus particularly on how Ecosystem Approaches to Fisheries (EAF) and Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) can be made practical and credible in these real-world conditions.

The symposium invites the global EAF and EBFM community to exchange knowledge, experiences, and perspectives across countries, cultures, and disciplines.

Join us in Penang next spring to help shape the future of fisheries science and management for the decades ahead.

⏰ Early registration and abstract submission is open until 30 September.

ℹ️ Learn more, register or submit an abstract: https://meetings.pices.int/meetings/international/2027/FIMEC/scope

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

❗️Extended Deadlines for PICES-2026❗️
Great news—you now have extra time to submit your abstract, secure financial support, and get early registration rates!

New deadline of June 30th, 2026 for:
- Abstract submissions
- Early registration
- Financial support applications

Details at: https://meetings.pices.int/meetings/annual/2026/PICES/registration

06/03/2026

Last week at the Global Ocean Summit 2026 in Hong Kong, PICES Executive Secretary Sonia Batten spoke on the role of international organizations in supporting ocean observations—highlighting how critical global collaboration is to advance ocean science and sustaining coordinated observing systems.

As a OceanObs29 Program Committee member, Sonia also helped kick off planning for the next decadal OceanObs conference, which held it's first official committee meeting at the Global Ocean Summit. Building on the strong legacy of past OceanObs conferences, OceanObs29 aims to be an inclusive, action-oriented forum—connecting ocean data to real-world outcomes that support coastal communities, strengthen early warning systems, and inform global climate policy.

The initial committee meetings brought together leading oceanographers, data scientists, economists, policymakers, and industry experts to begin shaping the conference’s core themes. Discussions focused on aligning ocean observing systems with urgent climate challenges, supporting sustainable blue economies, and advancing the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The energy and collaboration in these early sessions set the tone for what will be a truly global effort over the coming years.

A formal call for conference papers and session proposals will be announced soon, with a strong emphasis on welcoming diverse perspectives—from early-career researchers to Indigenous knowledge holders and established global networks. Check the OceanObs29 website for details (https://www.oceanobs29.net).

We look forward to being part of this growing collaboration!

05/07/2026

At the SPF‑2026 ECOP Mentoring Event this week, early‑career scientists had the opportunity to connect with mentors from diverse geographic regions, research disciplines, and career paths. The event generated productive discussions and strong interest, with approximately 70 conference participants—including both mentors and mentees—attending. Mentors included members of the symposium’s organizing and scientific steering committees, plenary and invited speakers, as well as topic session and workshop conveners.

05/05/2026

Today we officially open and welcome you to SPF-2026!

The SPF 2026 International Symposium—organized by PICES, ICES, and FAO, endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and locally hosted by CIBNOR and IPN CICIMAR—is officially underway, bringing together scientists, fisheries managers, and innovators from around the world.

This morning’s opening plenary session features keynote speakers:
• Rubén Rodríguez, CICIMAR – Instituto Politécnico Nacional
• Myron Peck, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
• Ryan Rykaczewski, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
• Nina Therkildsen, Assistant Professor, Cornell University
• Mark Dickey Collas, DickeyCollas Marine
• William Griffin, FAO

See more details on the symposium website: https://lnkd.in/eV8bGnRu

Wishing everyone a productive and engaging symposium week ahead!