FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture - Regional fishery bodies (RFB) fact sheets

Regional Fishery Bodies Summary Descriptions

The North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES)

Mission
Area of competence
Legal framework
Species and stocks coverage
Languages
Organizations involved
Structure
Activities and meetings
Publications
Contacts

MissionObjectives The North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), an intergovernmental scientific organization, was established in 1992 to promote and coordinate marine research in the northern North Pacific and adjacent seas. Functions

Information.

The purposes of the PICES are as follows:

promote and coordinate marine research in the northern North Pacific and adjacent seas especially northward of 30°N
advance scientific knowledge about the ocean environment, global weather and climate change, living resources and their ecosystems, and the impacts of human activities;
promote the collection and rapid exchange of scientific information on these issues.

Area of competence The area that the activities of the PICES concern is the temperate and sub-Arctic region of the North Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas, especially northward from 30°N. Activities of the PICES, for scientific reasons, may extend farther southward in the North Pacific Ocean, temperate and sub-Arctic region of the North Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas.

PICES area of competence - High seas, National waters

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The designations employed and the presentation of material in the map(s) are for illustration only and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries.

Legal framework The Convention came into force on 24 March 1992 after ratification by three of the five signatory states.
http://www.pices.int/about/convention.aspx Species and stocks coverage All living resources in the area of competence. LanguagesEnglish. Organizations involved

Member: Canada, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United States of America.

StructureGoverning Council The Governing Council (the "Council") is the main body of the PICES. Its main administrative and scientific functions are:

to identify research priorities and problemme pertaining to the area concerned, as well as appropriate methods for their solution;
to recommend coordinated research programme and related activities pertaining to the area concerned, which shall be undertaken through the national efforts of the participating contracting parties;
to promote and facilitate the exchange of scientific data, information, and personnel;
to consider requests to develop scientific advice pertaining to the area concerned;
to organize scientific symposia and other scientific events;
to foster the discussion of problems of mutual scientific interest;
to adopt and, if necessary, to amend the Rules of Procedure and Financial Regulations of the PICES;
to consider and recommend amendments to the Convention;
to adopt the annual report of the PICES;
to examine and adopt the annual budget and final accounts of the PICES;
to determine the location of the Secretariat;
to appoint the Executive Secretary;
to maintain contact with other relevant international organizations;
to manage the activities of the PICES.

Science Board The Science Board (SB) is an executive committee responsible for overseeing the scientific activities of the PICES. The SB is constituted of the Chairpersons of the scientific committees, technical committees, and advisory panels of scientific programs, together with a Chairperson elected by the SB. Its main functions are:

have general oversight over: (i) the scientific interests of the Council and its scientific work; (ii) the programme of research approved by the Council; (iii) the arrangements for carrying out the Council’s scientific work and the programme of research recommended or coordinated by it; (iv) the organization of special scientific meetings.
be responsible for advising the Council on all matters mentioned above;
review and make recommendations to the Council concerning the provision of scientific advice;
consider, at each annual meeting of the SB, reports from all groups under their jurisdiction and report thereon to the Council with special reference to any expenditures involved;
advise the Council of its publication requirement.

The SB can establish scientific committees, technical committees, advisory panels and working group as required. Four scientific committees have been established (Biological Oceanography Committee [BIO], Fishery Science Committee [FIS], Marine Environment Quality Committee [MEQ], Physical Oceanography and Climate Committee [POC]) and two technical committees (TCODE Technical Committee on Data Exchange, MONITOR Technical Committee on Monitoring). Information on working groups is available on the PICES Web site . Finance and Administration Committee The Finance and Administration Committee is an executive committee responsible for overseeing financial and administrative matters and effectiveness of the PICES. Activities and meetings Information about the activities, programmes and meetings held or organized by the PICES is available on the PICES Web site:

Publications PICES publications are available on the PICES Web site. Contacts

North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) Secretariat Address

c/o Institute of Ocean Sciences

P.O. Box 6000

9860 West Saanich Road

Sidney

British Columbia

V8L 4B2

Canada

Telephone: (+1) 250 3636366

Fax: (+1) 250 3636827

Email: secretariat@pices.int

Web site: http://www.pices.int/default.aspx



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