Organization Structure 2023 - 2024
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GC: Governing Council (GC)
The Governing Council (GC) is the decision-making body of the Organization composed of national representatives. The scientific and administrative functions, procedures and membership of GC are described in Articles V-VII of the PICES Convention and in Rules 3-9 of the Rules of Procedure.
Executive Committees
An Executive Committee is a permanent committee reporting directly to GC. With the approval of GC, an Executive Committee may establish subsidiary bodies to meet the needs of the Organization.
  • F&A The Finance and Administration Committee (F&A) is an Executive Committee responsible for overseeing financial and administrative matters and effectiveness of the Organization. Details on the functions, membership and leadership of F&A are described in Rule 19 of the Rules of Procedure.
Scientific and Technical Committees
The Scientific and Technical Committees are established by SB, with the approval of GC, as ongoing groups and are organized according to scientific or technical subjects. Each Committee is responsible for overseeing the activities of their subsidiary bodies and for determining priorities for consideration by SB and GC. Details on the functions, membership and leadership of the Committees and on the election procedure for a Committee Chairman are described in Rules 13, 14 and 17 of the Rules of Procedure.

Scientific Committees

Scientific Committees are responsible for the planning, direction, and overseeing of major themes within the Organization’s general scientific aims.

Technical Committees

Technical Committees are responsible for facilitating the technical and operational activities required to support the Organization’s science.
Scientific Program
A Scientific Program is established by SB, with the approval of GC, to address major scientific questions of general interest to the Organization. The Scientific Program typically places significant demands on the Organization for periods of up to a decade. The Program has an organizational structure recommended by SB, and SB serves as the Scientific Steering Committee of the Program.

Expert Groups (Subsidiary Bodies)

Expert Groups (Sections, Working Groups, Advisory Panels, Study Groups, etc.) are organizational entities created by decision. Details on the functions, membership and leadership of various Expert Groups are described in Rules 13, 15 and 17 of the Rules of Procedure.

Sections

A Section is an ongoing sub-committee established by a Scientific Committee or by several Scientific Committees, with the endorsement of SB and approval by GC, to consider, in greater detail, topics of sufficient general importance to the Organization that warrant continuing attention. Section on Marine Birds and Mammals S-MBM
(PICES-2015 - PICES-2026)
Section on Climate Change Effects on Marine Ecosystems S-CCME
(PICES-2011 - PICES-2025)
Section on Ecology of Harmful Algal Blooms in the North Pacific S-HAB
(PICES-2003 - PICES-2025)
Section on Carbon and Climate S-CC
(PICES-2005 - PICES-2027)

Working Groups

A Working Group is a group established by a Scientific Committee or by several Scientific Committees, with the endorsement of SB and approval by GC, for a period of typically three years, to undertake specific terms of reference and to report to the Organization on its findings. Working Group on Data Management WG 52
(PICES-2023 - PICES-2026)
Working Group on Exploring Human Networks to Power Sustainability WG 51
(PICES-2022 - PICES-2025)
Working Group on Sub-mesoscale Processes and Marine Ecosystems WG 50
(PICES-2021 - PICES-2024)
Working Group on Climate Extremes and Coastal Impacts in the Pacific WG 49
(PICES-2021 - PICES-2022)
Working Group on Towards best practices using Imaging Systems for Monitoring Plankton (WGISMP) WG 48
(PICES-2020 - PICES-2024)
Working Group on Ecology of Seamounts WG 47
(PICES-2020 - PICES-2024)
Joint PICES/ICES Working Group on Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions (ONCE) WG 46
(PICES-2019 - PICES-2022)
Joint PICES/ICES Working Group on Impacts of Warming on Growth Rates and Fisheries Yields (GRAFY) WG 45
(Aug. 2020 - PICES-2024)
Joint PICES/ICES Working Group on Integrated Ecosystem Assessment for the Northern Bering Sea - Chukchi Sea WG 44
(PICES-2019 - PICES-2023)
Joint PICES/ICES Working Group on Small Pelagic Fish WG 43
(PICES-2019 - PICES-2023)
Working Group on Indicators of Marine Plastic Pollution WG 42
(PICES-2018 - PICES-2023)
Joint PICES/ICES/PAME Working Group on an Integrated Ecosystem Assessment for the Central Arctic Ocean WG 39
(PICES-2016 – PICES-2022)

Advisory Panels

Study Groups

A Study Group is a group established by GC or by an Executive Committee, with the approval by GC, for a period not normally exceeding one year, to consider any scientific, policy, advisory and/or financial issues of interest to the Organization and to provide recommendations thereon. Study Group on the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Gateways SG-ARC
(PICES-2022 - ISB/IGC 2024)
Study Group on Generating Recommendations to Encourage Environmentally- Responsible Networking SG-GREEN
(Jun. 2022 - ISB-2024)

PICES Disbanded Groups