• Acronym: SG-UNDOS
• Parent Committees: FUTURE
• Established: PICES-2020
• Duration: PICES-2020 - Aug. 2021
• ICES Co-Chair: TBA
  PICES Co-Chair: TBA
• Mailing List

The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development provides an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen and expand the collaborative science between ICES and PICES and with other partner organizations. ICES and PICES are scientific organizations that interact and engage with an array of different groups, from academia, policy, civil society, industry, and foundations throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and through partnerships and specific agreements we are also increasing our presence in the Southern Hemisphere. Our two organizations play leading roles in advancing and communicating scientific understanding of marine ecosystems for societal outcomes. Our partnership brings together diverse networks to increase the overall capacity to conduct ocean science in support of sustainable development and to foster the range of skills necessary to support broad and overarching marine science goals. With the proposed ICES–PICES Ocean Decade, we will consolidate a strategic plan to bring about transformational science during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UN Ocean Decade; 2021-2030) by building upon our long history of successful partnerships in advancement of marine science.

An ad-hoc group of ICES and PICES scientists has been engaged since October 2019 in bilateral discussions on joint activities in support of the UN Ocean Decade (see Appendix A). The strategic plans and objectives of both organizations are well-aligned with UN Ocean Decade objectives, positioning ICES, PICES and their associated networks to play a leading role in addressing UN Ocean Decade priorities and societal outcomes. The purpose of the proposed ICES–PICES Ocean Decade is threefold: (a) to establish a common strategy for joint activities, and to provide regional leadership in support of the UN Ocean Decade; (b) to identify and strengthen relationships with partner professional and multilateral organizations to facilitate UN Ocean Decade engagement; and (c) to develop a UN Ocean Decade Programme for endorsement by the IOC. Our Programme proposal will support and leverage ICES, PICES, and member countries’ priorities and initiatives related to the UN Ocean Decade, by emphasizing areas of mutual research interest and policy needs, including climate change, fisheries and ecosystem-based management, social, ecological and environmental dynamics of marine systems, coastal communities and human dimensions, and communication and capacity development (Figure 1). The ICES–PICES Ocean Decade will also incorporate strategies to facilitate UN Ocean Decade cross-cutting inclusivity themes relating to gender equality, early career ocean professional engagement, and significant involvement of indigenous communities and developing nations in the planning and implementation of joint activities. Likewise, the ICES–PICES Ocean Decade will include a scoping exercise and dialogue with decision-makers and stakeholders.

Linkages to previous Joint ICES-PICES Expert Groups or activities:

There is a long and productive history of joint ICES-PICES expert groups working on topics such as Forecasting Climate Change Impacts on Fish and Shellfish, Climate Change and Biologically-driven Ocean Carbon Sequestration, Integrated Ecosystem Assessment for the Central Arctic Ocean, also joint with PAME), Small Pelagic Fish, Integrated Ecosystem Assessment for the Northern Bering Sea - Chukchi Sea, and strategic initiatives on Climate Change and Marine Ecosystems as well as others. The proposed ICES–PICES Ocean Decade is intended to formalize and build upon the momentum of the ICES-PICES ad hoc group that has been discussing joint UN Ocean Decade. Additionally, the proposed ICES–PICES Ocean Decade will leverage ongoing efforts in ICES and PICES including developing a network of Early Career Ocean Professionals, and the joint Early Career Scientist conference planned for May 2022, which will have a UN Ocean Decade focus.

Linkages/Contributions to the PICES FUTURE Science Program

The FUTURE Science Program shares many of the goals of the UN Ocean Decade. Following discussions within the FUTURE Scientific Steering Committee and PICES Science Board, the FUTURE program is developing a Phase III Strategic & Implementation Plan that positions FUTURE to provide the scientific and organizational infrastructure to implement the activities of UN Ocean Decade in the North Pacific. The proposed ICES–PICES Ocean Decade will establish a strategic plan to allow the FUTURE SSC and PICES Science Board to effectively accomplish this mission, in partnership with ICES and other organizations.

Linkages/Contributions to the ICES Strategic and Science plans and PICES Science Plan

The ICES Strategic and Science plans and PICES Science Plan encompass the goals of the UN Ocean Decade, with science priorities directly addressing the expected societal outcomes of the UN Ocean Decade. However, a more concrete and strategic engagement for the benefit for both organizations, its member countries and scientists, and support for collaboration between the organizations requires strategic planning.

Linkages to other organizations and programs

A key objective of the proposed ICES–PICES Ocean Decade is to identify and facilitate engagement of partner organizations to implement joint UN Ocean Decade activities, that will enhance communication and outreach to diverse stakeholders In particular, we acknowledge the ‘Coastal Indigenous Peoples’ Declaration at OceanObs’19’ to “establish meaningful partnerships with indigenous communities, organizations, and Nations to learn and respect each other’s ways of knowing; negotiate paths forward to design, develop, and carry out ocean observing initiatives; and share responsibility and resources”. We will engage with organizations that have capacity to bring traditional/indigenous knowledge into our activities. We will also develop partnerships with organizations active in regions outside our formal membership.

1. Define and describe the joint scientific activities of ICES, PICES and partner organizations that will contribute to UN Ocean Decade societal outcomes.
2. Draft a strategy that prioritizes engagement with early career ocean professionals, indigenous communities, developing nations, and recognizes the importance of promoting diversity and gender equity in our activities.
3. Identify and engage partner organizations to ensure their full participation in this process.
4. Develop a UN Ocean Decade Programme2 proposal for endorsement by UNESCO-IOC, with new and existing partners, allowing for participation of additional partners throughout the Decade.
5. Develop recommendations for new and existing ICES and PICES Expert Groups to implement and maintain the Programme activities, and also encourage and support expert group participation in all aspects of the UN Ocean Decade.