SCOPE
PICES has provided leadership in developing a more thorough understanding of the structure, function, and changes of North Pacific marine ecosystems with the support of its flagship scientific programs. The current scientific program on ‘Forecasting and Understanding Trends, Uncertainty, and Responses of North Pacific Marine Ecosystems’ (FUTURE) promotes investigations of North Pacific ecosystems with an emphasis on the synergy of social, ecological, and environmental systems and processes. Within this framework, PICES is focused on developing a better understanding of the combined consequences of climate change and anthropogenic pressures on marine ecosystems, ecosystem services, and marine-dependent social systems. Building on these foundational results, we now embark on the “FUTURE” of PICES that will lead to better observations, improved awareness of mechanisms of change, and ultimately science for sustainability by 2030. Through our science PICES will continue to provide leadership to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the mission of developing “the science we need for the ocean we want”. We welcome submissions associated with the “FUTURE” of PICES, to explore progress already made and to steer our science towards identifying gaps and setting priorities.