The purpose of a Study Group is to analyze the scientific, policy, and/or financial implications of a proposal made by Science Board or Governing Council, and provide recommendations for Science Board or Council on the proposal. This type of group would typically be formed for a period of one-year and would provide a report of their findings and recommendations to Science Board or Council prior to the Annual Meeting after it was formed.

Currently PICES has the following Study Groups:

Active Study Groups:

• SG-GREEN: Study Group on Generating Recommendations to Encourage Environmentally- Responsible Networking
  (Jun. 2022 - ISB-2024)

Disbanded Study Groups:

• SG-ARC: Study Group on the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Gateways
  (PICES-2022 - ISB/IGC-2024) (Disbanded: IGC-2024)
• SG-DATA: Study Group on encouraging Data Awareness and increased Transmission and Accessibility
  (Term: PICES-2022 - PICES-2023) (Disbanded: PICES-2023)
• SG-ER: Study Group on External Review of PICES
  (Jan. 2022 - May IGC-2023)
• SG-PICES-APN: Joint APN-PICES Study Group on Scientific Cooperation in the Pacific Ocean
  (Aug. 2021 - Feb. 2023)
• SG-SCPSC: Joint PICES-PSC Study Group on Scientific Cooperation in the North Pacific Ocean
  (PICES-2021 - PICES-2022)
• SG-UNDOS: Study Group on United Nations Decade of Ocean Science
  (PICES-2020 - TBA (final report completion))
• SG-ECOP: Study Group on Early Career Ocean Professionals
  (PICES-2020 - Jan. 2022 (final report completion))
• SG-SciCom: Study Group on Science Communications
  (PICES-2020 - Jan. 2022 (final report completion))
  
• SG-IMCE: Study Group on Impacts of Mariculture on Coastal Ecosystems
  (Nov. 2018 - Oct. 2020)
• SG-PICES-NPFC: Joint PICES-NPFC Study Group for Scientific Cooperation in the North Pacific Ocean
  (Oct. 2017 – Oct. 2019)
• SG-MMP: Study Group on Marine Microplastics
  (Oct. 2017 – Oct. 2018)
• SG-MES: Study Group on Marine Ecosystem Services
  (Nov. 2016 – Oct. 2017)
• SG-NPESR-3: Study Group on North Pacific Ecosystem Status Report
  (Jan. 2015 - Oct. 2016)
• SG-RSP: Study Group on Revising the Strategic Plan
  (Jan. 2015 - Oct. 2016)
• SG-CEP: Study Group on Climate and Ecosystem Predictability
  (Oct. 2015 - Oct. 2016)
• SG-CERP: Study Group on Common Ecosystem Reference Points across PICES Member Countries
  (Oct. 2015 - Oct. 2016)
• SG-SCISC: Study Group for Scientific Cooperation of ISC and PICES
  (Apr. 2015 - Apr. 2016)
• SG-SEES: Socio-Ecological-Environmental Systems
  (Jan. 2014 - Dec. 2015)
• SG-SCOOP: Joint PICES-NOWPAP Study Group on Scientific Cooperation in the North Pacific Ocean
  (Jul. 2014 - Oct. 2015)
• SG-SC-NP: Joint NPAFC-PICES Study Group on Scientific Cooperation in the North Pacific Ocean
  (Jun. 2013 - Oct. 2014)
• SG-BC: Study Group on Biodiversity Conservation
  (Jan. 2014 - Oct. 2014)
• SG-MP: Study Group on Marine Pollutants
  (Oct. 2011 - Dec. 2013)
• SG-RS: Study Group on Radionuclide Science in the North Pacific Ocean
  (Jan. 2013 - Jun. 2013)
• SG-HD: Study Group on Human Dimensions
  (Oct. 2009 - Oct. 2011)
• SG-SP: Joint P/ICES Study Group on Developing a Framework for Scientific
  Cooperation in Northern Hemisphere Marine Science
  (Oct. 2009 - Oct. 2011)
• SG-USP: Study Group on Updating the PICES Strategic Plan
  (Oct. 2009 - Oct. 2011)
• SG-RAM: Study Group on Restructuring of the PICES Annual Meeting
  (Oct.2008 - Oct. 2009)
• WT-IP: FUTURE Implementation Plan Writing Team
  (Jun. 2008 - Oct. 2009)
• SG-COM: Study Group on PICES Communication
  (Oct. 2007 - Oct. 2009)
• SG-FISP: Study Group on Future Integrative Scientific Program(s)
  (May 2005 - Oct. 2009)
• WT-SP: FUTURE Science Plan Writing Team
  (Jan. 2007 - Apr. 2008)
• SG-ESR: Study Group on Ecosytem Status Reporting
  (Oct. 2006 - Oct. 2007)
• SG-GOOS: Study Group to develop a strategy for GOOS
  (Oct. 2005 - Oct. 2007)
• SG-MAR: Study Group on Marine Aquaculture and Ranching in the PICES region
  (Oct. 2006 - Oct. 2007)
• SG-SC: Study Group on Scientific Cooperation between PICES and non-member countries
  (Oct. 2006 - Oct. 2007)
• SG-RPFR: Study Group on PICES Rules of Procedure and Financial Regulations
  (Oct. 2004 - Apr. 2006)
• SG-EBM: Study Group on Ecosystem-based management science and its application to the North Pacific
  (Oct. 2003 - Oct. 2004)
• SG-FERRRS: Study Group on Fisheries and Ecosystem Responses to Recent Regime Shifts
  (Oct. 2003 - Oct. 2004)
• SG-SI: Study Group on PICES Strategic Plan
  (Oct. 2003 - Oct. 2004)
• SG-CB: Study Group on PICES Capacity Building
  (Oct. 2002 - Oct. 2003)
• SG-NPESR-RAC: Study Group on North Pacific Ecosystem Status Report and Regional Analysis Centers (RAC)
  (Oct. 2000 - Dec. 2001)