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In the coastal waters of southern Norway the fishermen distinguish between three different types of cod:—the “dyptorsk” living in deep water in the fjords and in the skjærgård, and especially outside the coastal banks, the “taretorsk” living in the shallow waters of the skj ærgård, and the “fjordtorsk” living in the shallow waters of the fjords and in narrow sounds. The characters used by the fishermen to separate the different types are colour and body proportions. These characters are, however, influenced by the environment and rate of growth. The different types may be phenotypes. But we must also take into consideration tha t genotypical factors may come into the problem. The possibility exists that the young of the deep-sea cod will seek the deep layers, and grow into a deep-sea cod. It is possible th a t the young of the littoral cod prefer the littoral region. That question cannot, however, be discussed on the basis of the material at hand. The investigations discussed here will show that the population of cod in the skj ærgård differs in several ways from the cod in the fjords, and that the population in one fjord differs from that in another. Material is too scanty for the deep-sea cod. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

Damage to fisheries by the Grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, has been a serious problem in the UK and Canada for a number of years. The recent local increases in the abundance of the Grey seal in Norway, with an apparently related increase in fishery damage is seen as a problem which could become widespread if not checked in the near future. In order to give greater consideration to the problems associated with increases in stock size, an ICES Working Group was set up (C Res. 1976/2:15) to " .... review the current status and trends in stock sizes, methodological problems of censusing and facto:rs responsible for the present expansion of the species. Data on the effects on fish resources, including codworm and gear damage, should be collected and their economic implications considered. The ultimate aim of the Working Group should be to find feasible solutions to this complex problem.... ". The Working Group (see Annex 1) met in Cambridge, UK, from 16-20 May 1977, and the agenda of that meeting is appended as Annex 2.

Report on ICES sponsored symposia held in 2016: The 6th International Zooplankton Production Symposium: New challenges in a changing Ocean; held 9–13 May 2016, in Bergen, Norway. Understanding marine socio-ecological systems: including the human dimensions in Integrated Ecosystem Assessments; held 30 May – 3 June 2016, in Brest, France.

The Chair, Mrs Agneta Andersson-Nordstrom, opened the Workshopffraining Course of the Phytoplankton Expert Group, which was held at Hotel Parkas in Klaipeda, Lithuania from 12-15 October 1998. The director of the Centre of Marine Research in Klaipeda, Mr Algirdas Stankevicius, welcomed the participants on behalf of the hosts. The meeting was organised by Mrs Irina Olenina. Mr Norbert Wasmund was appointed rapporteur. The list of participants is attached as Annex 1 to this report. The training course was composed of two parts: training on cyanobacteria (Cyanoprokaryota) on 12 October 1998 with Mrs Gertrud Cronberg as a teacher and training on small flagellates (Prymnesiophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Prasinophyceae) on 13 October 1998 with Mrs Seija Hallfors and Mr Guy Hallfors as teachers. The two parts included a theoretical introduction and practical microscopical work on samples, brought over by the participants.

ICES advices that it is premature to initiate routine monitoring on PFOS or other PFCs in the atmosphere to support assessments of inputs of PFOS to the marine environment. More research is essential to get a better basic understanding of the different transport mechanisms, of atmospheric-marine interactions and the significance of these compounds in the marine environment. Analytical techniques also need to be further developed.

ICES reports and minutes from meetings held from July 1906 to July 1907. Includes: Administrative reports. Reports and miutes from the 1906 and 1907 meetings of the International Council of the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), also known as the ICES Delegates meeting, and ICES Bureau meetings. Special comission meetings reports from Comission A, Comission B, and on hydrography, statistical standards, and fishing regions and areas. Publication in English, German, and French.

Appendix A of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions (RPVR) Vol. 3. On the probable occurrence in the Atlantic Current of variations periodical, and otherwise, and their bearing on meteorological and biological phenomena

The Working Group on Crangon Fisheries and Life History (WGCRAN) works on studying the population dynamics of the brown shrimp Crangon crangon and factors influencing the stock as well the individual species. A central goal of the group is to provide a biological basis for advice and to identify ways for sustainable management. A main outcome of the 2022 meeting was the standardization of the compilation of commercial data, i.e. the creation of a common workflow for uniform (inter-) national data retrieval. On this basis, total brown shrimp landings, fishing effort and landings per unit effort were discussed. For the first time, biological stock status indicators, i.e. brown shrimp swept area biomass, annual mortality, and fraction of large shrimp were calculated both with and without incorporating Belgian scientific survey data. For the swept-area biomass, the addition of Belgian data had limited influence. The meeting finally discussed the status of the international bycatch sampling programmes under the de minimis exemption from the landing obligation. For future common analysis supporting policy decisions, a data format was established for compiling the data collected by each country.

The total catch of S. marinus in Divisions Va and Vb and in the Sub-areas VI and XIV has decreased from about 130,000 t in 1982 to about 40,00 and 39,000 t in 1997 and 1998, respectively (Table 8.1.1). This decline of about 70% over this period has been continuous but with few exceptions. Since 1990, catches have decreased from about 67,000 t or about 45%. The relative highest decline in last years occurred in area Va (Table 8.1.1). Catches of S. marinus in Division Va have declined from 63,000 t in 1990 to only 34,000 t in 1996, a 55% reduction. The catch in 1998 was about 37,000 t. The decline in the catch in 1994 was at least partly due to area closures imposed on the fishery by Iceland in order to reduce the catches of S. marinus. The catches in 1995 increased again to approximately 42,000 t despite the area closures. The catches in 1996-1998 are the lowest catch of S. marinus in Va since 1978. The length distributions in the Icelandic landings in 1989-1997 along with measurements at sea from the commercial trawler fleet are shown in Figure 8.1.1. The location and number of measured fishes by statistical square is given in Figure 8.1.2.

The cod population of the Oslofjord. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

The contributions to the Special Scientific Meeting “THE COD” which are submitted herewith show that, during the 20 years that have passed since our last meeting dealing with the cod, very great attention has been paid to a census of the cod stocks. The long series of observations recording length and age compositions of the cod constitute very valuable material, and new facts of paramount importance have been presented. Our plan of arranging all the contributions within a particular frame work may have prevented some interesting observations from appearing, but it has enabled us to present data for a direct comparison of the different stocks examined by various workers. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

Under the EU Data Collection Regulation, maturity samples are collected for mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus). These data are used for fishery stock assessment and also for different types of studies regarding the maturation cycles of these species. Several different maturity scales are currently used by different institutes. Most of these scales are used for very specific purposes, and the data produced are difficult to compare or jointly analyse. The Walsh scale, in particular, has been used for 17 years, and is used as routine or for special purposes by most of the observers present at the workshop. Taking into consideration the generic standard scale proposed in a previous workshop (WKMAT), and the characteristics of the mackerel and horse mackerel reproductive cycles, the workshop has proposed a standard scale for these species. The Walsh scale was fitted into this standard scale, which was used in the calibration exercises along with the Walsh scale. Ideally a calibration should be carried out with gonads of a ‘known’ stage. For practical reasons such an exercise was not possible. Therefore, the objective of this workshop was restricted to compare and improve the agreement between observers, assuming that the “correct stage” was the one given to each gonad by the majority of the observers.

A standard hydrographical section in the southwestern Bay of Biscay northward from Santander (3°47'W, 43°30743°54'N) was sampled monthly from 1991 by the “Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia". Changes were observed in the heat content and temperature at the surface in the East North Atlantic Central Water (ENACW) and also at the Mediterranean Water (MW) layers. At the surface, in addition to the typical seasonal cycle that shows rapid warming in the spring and slower cooling in the autumn, there was also a suggestion of a warming trend, but it was not statistically significant. Local and occasional sources of variability, such as coastal upwelling, were also detected. Significant warming trends were found for the shallower ENACW, where water mass characteristic changes occurred along the temperature-salinity diagram (around 0.03 to 0.06°C y-1), and also for the Mediterranean influenced water mass, where its evolution takes place along the isopycnal surface (around 0.02°C y-1). Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

This data call aims to collate data describing fishing effort, monitoring/sampling effort, and bycatch event records of protected and sensitive species from 2022. These data will be used by WGBYC to support the provision of ICES management advice on the wider effects of fishing activity.

The winter mixed layer depth was variable in the Irminger and Iceland Seas in the period 1990-2000, but reached much deeper in the Irminger Sea as a halocline limits vertical convection in the Iceland Sea. The ranges of the related variations in salinity, density, and nutrient concentrations were similar in both regions. The nutrient variations were proportionately greater in the Iceland Sea. Statistical relationships between mixed layer depth and surface water properties were stronger for the Iceland Sea. but interannual variations in advection had more effects in the Irminger Sea. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

Time-series of oceanographic and meteorological data collected off the Basque coast, SE Bay of Biscay, show tendencies concurring with the anomaly patterns described for the NE Atlantic area as a whole during the late 1980s and 1990s. Temperature and salinity maxima were reached in the early 1990s after a period of dry and relatively warm winters related to the dominance of south and westerly winds. In the SE corner of the Bay of Biscay, this atmospheric regime increases the occurrence of Eastern North Atlantic Central Water (ENACW) over the continental shelf. Other maxima were recorded during the second half of the 1990s, but the correspondence between the increase of temperature and salinity and the occurrence of ENACW type waters is lower than in the previous period of observation. It would appear that the same climatic regime that favours the intrusion of the ENACW into the SE Bay of Biscay is also associated with warm and dry weather conditions that maintain the temperature-salinity characteristics of the Atlantic Central Waters in this area. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

Report presented to the Fisheries Improvement Committee of ICES, 1976, by P. G. W. Jones of MAFF Fisheries Radiobiological Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK.

Report on ICES sponsored symposia held in 2019: NASCO Symposium: Managing the Atlantic Salmon in a Rapidly Changing Environment – Management Challenges and Possible Responses, held 3–4 June 2019, in Tromsø, Norway. Challenging the Scientific Legacy of Johan Hjort: Time for a new paradigm in marine research? Held 12–14 June 2019, in Bergen, Norway. Second International Science and Policy Conference on Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Management in the Arctic, held 25–27 June 2019, in Bergen, Norway. Shellfish – Resources and Invaders of the North, held 5–7 November 2019, in Tromsø, Norway. International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability: Strengthening the Science-Policy Nexus, held 18–21 November 2019, in Rome, Italy.

The advisory committee of ICES met during the 2022 Annual science conference in Dublin. It was a hybrid meeting. It considered conservation status advice, new VME advice, reference points and rebuilding frameworks (in principle approving 3 further workshops) and next steps for alternative perceptions of advice from stakeholders (with approval to hold a workshop with a subgroup of MIACO on the issue). The work of the benchmark oversight group was discussed and there was a frank exploration of the decision process in ACOM and ramifications of ACOM members disagreeing in other parts of the process. In a joint session with SCICOM, the issues of integrated monitoring and gender awareness, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion were addressed. The impact of deviations from management plans in ICES were discussed (with approval to hold a workshop with a subgroup of MIRIA on the issue). The need for training and equitable repre-sentation was explored with no agreement by the committee and progress to mitigate the sus-pension of experts from the Russian Federation on advice was reviewed, given the ACOM lead-ership a further mandate to explore solutions. The committee remembered Dr Sarah Kraak, who passed away in 2022.

The cod material here dealt with has been collected from the commercial fishery on the spawning places off the Faroes, north and west of the islands. Most of the cod were caught on longlines, but west of the islands hand-lines have also been used. A regular collection of otoliths and measurements of cod in the spring months, more particularly in March—April, commenced in 1933. This collection of material was unfortunately interrupted by the second world war, and was not resumed till after the war, in 1951. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

Since August 1902, a rich material has been collected during several seasonal cruises in the Færoe-Shetland Channel which forms part of the Scottish region in the international investigations of the sea. This material has been worked up and has now been published in two larger papers: “Hydrographical Investigations of the Færoe-Shetland Channel and the Northern Part of the North Sea during 1902” by the present author, and “Scottish Hydrographic Research during 1903” by A.J. Robertson . As the results of these investigations are also of importance for the other North European seas, a short summary of the contents of the papers mentioned will be given in the following pages.

The development of assessment criteria for biological effects techniques was initiated at WKIMON III. Progress over the past year was reviewed. The development of the Fish Disease Index had progressed very well; some changes were made to the response ranges for reproduction in eelpout and for bioassays. An immediate requirement for further work related to the establishment of assessment criteria for EROD, and WKIMON recommended that an ad hoc workshop be held for 3 days in Oostende, Belgium, in late September/early October 2008. The OSPAR Background Documents for some of the biological effects technique (fish disease, bile metabolites, EROD) require updating because the present ones are either incomplete or contain outdated information. The methods used to establish the response ranges needed as assessment criteria of the biological effects techniques differ considerably and some were regarded as either inadequate or as supported by too few data. In addition, it was felt that general guidelines for deriving assessment criteria should be developed to ensure there was some degree of consistency and harmony to the process. In particular, there is a need to define the boundaries between the three levels of “Background Response Range”, the “Elevated Response Range” and the “High Effect Range”; these may be regarded as the EAC equivalent boundaries for contaminants i.e. below, between and above. In this respect one important task for each biological effect will be to define what constitutes a “significant high level of response” or “harm” to the organism. This is a longer‐term goal and should be continued by WKIMON or its equivalent in the future. In this respect a number of tasks were identified to address the above issues and to progress further development of assessment criteria. The compilation of Background Documents on Biological Effects Techniques for Monitoring was provided by the OSPAR secretariat for the WKIMON IV meeting. The current status of each document was reviewed concurrently with the review on progress with the development of assessment criteria. It was recommended that a new Background Document on intersex in fish is needed and for completeness the compilation of Background Documents should include TBT‐induced imposex in whelks. The compiled Background Document was thought to be thorough and complete. Some slight updating of references to take account of the most recent publications is needed but not urgent. Specific comment was given on each of the background documents:‐reproduction in eelpout, EROD, PAH bile metabolites, DNA adducts, bioassays, lysosomal stability, fish disease index and scope for growth. It was noted that a Technical Annex for oestrogenic effects was being progressed. Current methods for integrated assessments that the group were aware of were discussed, for example the FullMonti, REGNS and US EPA approaches. After discussion a new approach was suggested along the lines discussed by MON for integrating groups of chemical contaminants. The new approach used different endpoints of biological effects in fish, mussels and gastropods into a Generic Assessment Framework, which can be used as a “Traffic light” for environmental assessments. It was concluded that further refinement and development was required and in addition, the integration of the generic assessment framework with contaminants needed further discussion and development. A draft technical annex to support the integrated chemical‐biological effect approach was considered. This included preliminary considerations on survey and statistical design but further work was needed on this. Information was collated for use as a basis for further development of a technical annex and this included: an overview of selected methods for integrated fish monitoring; overview of selected methods for integrated bivalve monitoring; overview of methods and species for integrated gastropod/organotin monitoring; environmental parameters for inclusion in monitoring programmes (water); environmental parameters for inclusion in monitoring programmes (sediment); draft integrated guidelines for mussels: and sampling and analysis strategies for integrated fish and bivalve monitoring. A draft technical annex on recommended packages of chemical and biological methods for monitoring on a determinant basis was prepared and included packages on metals, PCBs, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and furans, PAH and alkylated PAH, organotins, BFRs and PFOS. A practical workshop (ICON) was proposed at WKIMON III with the aim of demonstrating the core components of the WKIMON integrated chemical biological effect methods and guidelines. Much of the programme was initially being funded from the Norwegian oil industry and Research Council but this support was no longer available. As a result a revised programme was suggested with a reduced number of stations and species than were included in the original proposal for ICON. In addition, the revised ICON should also look at existing good data sets, and select a data set for analysis as a case study that might be suitable for inclusion as box text in QSR2010. The status of WKIMON (convened as a workshop) is no longer tenable within the OSPAR or ICES system. It was agreed that the work being undertaken by the WKIMON group would take up to three years to complete. It was proposed that a new group be formed within the ICES/OSPAR setup, perhaps a joint Study Group, to complete the outstanding work. Tasks for the group were identified and recommendation put forward for consideration by ICES/OSPAR.

Renewable energy developments (wave, tidal stream and barrage/fence) are likely to become important features of the OSPAR area. The likely ecological impacts of barrages/fences are large and reasonably well understood, but the impacts of wave, and particularly tidal stream, devices, are much less predictable and have the potential to be significant for some groups of organisms. It is important that the results of thorough monitoring of early deployments of wave and tidal stream devices are published and used to guide the management of subsequent developments.

Each year the ICES Working Group on Oceanic Hydrography generates a summary of oceanic conditions in a series of regions around the North Atlantic. The time-series are reviewed in the context of atmospheric conditions represented by the North Atlantic Oscillation. The summary for the 2000 period is presented and the reader alerted to the location of the report and the data upon which it is based.Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

The Marine Research Institute in Iceland has been monitoring the inflow of Atlantic Water onto the north Icelandic Shelf using Aanderaa current meters on one mooring since 1985. In August 1999 three moorings were deployed along the Hornbanki section and recovered a year later, and these data are used along with CTD data from the section to estimate the flow of Atlantic Water to the north Icelandic Shelf. The mean transport during this period was found to be 0.95 Sv. This is lower than a pre­vious estimate using a single mooring from the Kogur section. No clear seasonal variations were found in the transport. Interannual variations were studied using data from the single mooring at the Hornbanki section for the period 1994-2000. There are no significant variations in the velocity, but the temperature shows interannual vari­ability. The year 1995 stands out with extremely low temperatures and during that year an anomalously small amount of Atlantic Water was found over the north Ice­landic Shelf. This may show that current measurements alone do not indicate the flow of Atlantic Water, and measurements of the water properties are needed to distinguish what kind of water is flowing along the Shelf.Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

On the changes of the stock of cod in the Baltic. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

Over the past decade, recruitment processes of the two species of Lepidorhombus that overlap in the southern Bay of Biscay seem to respond to similar patterns. This appears to be partially explained by density independent factors. Before summer, egg and larval drift by the currents over the continental shelf play a key role. After summer, the upwelling strength seems to influence survival of juveniles through food availability.Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

The Working Group on Zooplankton Ecology (WGZE) brings together zooplankton researchers from the North Atlantic and adjacent regions, performing comparative analyses of zooplankton time-series, and reviewing new zooplankton sampling and analysis technologies. The group’s ongoing activities covering central aspects of zooplankton ecology include: (i) the development of ecological indicators from existing zooplankton time-series data, (ii) the study of changes and trends of zooplankton community properties, (iii) the continued development of the Zooplankton Biometric Atlas and database, (iv) the review of emerging plankton sampling and analytical methodologies, (v) activities related to zooplankton outreach and training courses, and (vi) collaborative activities with other Expert Groups within and outside ICES. An inventory of variables recorded by WGZE-associated time-series was produced for the design and calculations of new indicators, including data gaps and recommendations on how to address these. The Mean Size / Total Stock indicator was selected as appropriate from the available data. The WGZE abundance and biomass ranking method was developed as a robust approach that can identify community changes across zooplankton time-series data collected with a variety of sampling depths, environments, gear types, mesh sizes, and sample analysis protocols. A planned workshop will aim to interpret the preliminary analysis of community rank changes, and develop approaches to quantifying associated patterns across regions, habitats (i.e. depth and distance from shore), and traits (e.g. size, diet, life history) and linking community and environmental changes. A particular scientific highlight was the launch of the WGZE Biometrics Atlas for the ICES North Atlantic region (https://wgze.net/traits). This will allow us to improve calculations of biomass and abundance directly from the species-level data. Emerging plankton sampling and analytical tool were reviewed via the publication of a WGZE-led Frontiers research topic entitled ‘Technological Advances for Measuring Planktonic Components of the Pelagic Ecosystem: An Integrated Approach to Data Collection and Analysis’ comprising 13 articles and an Editorial. Further scientific highlights for the 2021–2023 term include the publication of 6 new plankton identification leaflets, the motivation of an ICES JMS themed article set entitled ‘Marine zooplankton time-series: essential tools to understand variability in productivity-determining processes in the oceans.’ containing 19 articles and an Introduction paper by WGZE chairs, and the organization of the upcoming 7th ICES/PICES ZPS together with colleagues from PICES and Australia.

Time-series of sea temperature from the North Atlantic are statistically analysed and compared. We focus on the Norwegian coast and the Barents Sea, with supporting data from the waters off eastern Canada and the Faeroes. The longest time-series are sea surface temperature (SST) observations from Norwegian lighthouses, starting in the mid-1860s. Correlations all along the Norwegian coast are unlagged, suggesting that large-scale atmospheric forcing is important. Antisynchrony between Northeast and Northwest Atlantic sea temperature fluctuations is indicated. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is generally positively correlated to winter temperatures in Norwegian waters and negatively correlated to the temperature off Newfoundland. Correlations between the NAO and coastal SST on the west and south coasts of Norway are strong and persistent right back to the beginning of the observational record. However, Barents and Labrador Sea temperature seem to have been closely linked to the NAO only during the past 3-4 decades. Spectral analysis reveals that the four subsurface sea temperature series have oscillations from about 8 to about 14 years, the NAO has most variance at high frequencies ( < 1 year), while the SST series lie between. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

This is a compilation of the available descriptions of the zoeal and megalopa stages of the Brachyura Xanthidae crabs of the Atlantic Ocean belonging to three subfamilies (Euxanthinae, Xanthinae, and Zosiminae). Descriptions of the zoea of 12 species and the megalopa of 6 species are included, with a key for both stages provided.

The ICES Working Group on integrated assessments for the Norwegian Sea (WGINOR) synthe-sizes and evaluates information on physical, chemical, ecological, human, and environmental processes affecting the Norwegian Sea ecosystem. For this purpose, it gathers information, per-forms data analyses, and interacts with stakeholders. Based on these, WGINOR develops and produces an annual ecosystem status summary and assembles a knowledge base that supports the Norwegian Sea Ecosystem Overview. In 2022, WGINOR reports that 1) while the extent of Arctic Water is increasing, the temperature of the Atlantic inflow has been close to the long-term mean, 2) the annual primary production remains stable, but the seasonal timing of peak production is gradually shifting to a later date, 3) zooplankton spring biomass, measured since 1995, declined in the mid-2000s and has since remained relatively stable, 4) Norwegian spring-spawning herring and mackerel mature bio-masses declined slightly in 2022. After a few years of decline, the biomass of mature blue whiting increased, driven by historically high recruitment, 5) breeding numbers for Atlantic puffin and black-legged kittiwake continue to decline and common guillemot remains at high risk of extinc-tion, 6) seals pup production is declining or at low levels and baleen whales’ distribution has gradually moved from the Norwegian Sea and towards the Barents Sea. WGINOR is gradually implementing standardized data analysis procedures. For the first time, some of these analyses are implemented in the ICES Transparent Assessment Framework (TAF). WGINOR is also developing a set of geographical polygons to report the results of regional anal-yses in a standardized manner. In 2022, WGINOR invited stakeholders from Norwegian organizations to further develop the dialogue between WGINOR scientists and the end-users of WGINOR work. Additional scientific highlights from the group include research on oceanographic conditions in the Icelandic Sea and its impact on the climate of the Norwegian Sea, quantification of mackerel migration patterns using PIT-tags, emerging dynamics of the hake fishery, and diet analyses of small pelagic fish.

32 working documents were presented to the working group during the meeting and they are all listed below. In addition the following documents were presented: a) Report of the Study Group on Redfish Stocks (ICES C.M. 1999/G:9).

The TAC for this area for 1998 was 28,000 t. This was a precautionary TAC and was the same as that set each year since 1992. The total catch estimated by the Working Group to have been taken from the stock during 1998 was approximately 38,900 t. This catch was approximately 11,700 t higher than that recorded for 1996 and the highest catch recorded since 1990. There has been considerable misreporting of catches in this area. The total official catch is believed to have been much been much lower for a number of years than the actual catch taken from the stock. In 1998 ACFM considered that it was problematic to judge the state of this stock because of the lack of fishery independent data. It was however considered to be harvested outside safe biological limits as defined by the proposed reference points. It was recommended that F in 1999 should be reduced by 30% to 0.41 in order to rebuild the SSB. This reduction in F corresponded to a catch of 19,000 t in 1999. The TAC set by the EU for 1999 was 21,000 t compared with 28,000 t for 1998.

For a period of more than 10 years, two basic eutrophication indicators, dissolved inorganic macronutrients and chlorophyll a, have been measured along with physical parameters at a permanent coastal station in the northern German Wadden Sea near Büsum. despite distinctly reduced phosphorus inputs, the data have not revealed any long-term trend in nutrient winter concentrations or algal biomass compared to other available time-series in the area of investigation, i.e. River Elbe nutrient loads and nutrient concentrations in the German Bight near Helgoland. Instead, there are indices of slightly higher winter phosphate concentrations in recent years as well as a decrease in maximum annual N:P ratios due to elevated residual phosphate concentra­tions in spring. This is in contrast to the situation in the adjacent German Bight, where a declining trend in dissolved inorganic phosphate concentrations is observed. It is suggested that persistent high phosphate concentrations in the northern German Wadden Sea result from local sources of phosphate such as remobilization from the sediments, as well as remineralization of imported organic matter. The comparison with a comprehensive assessment of seasonal light and nutrient availability in the water column indicates that on an annual basis, phytoplankton biomass development in the northern German Wadden Sea is still insensitive to current nutrient reduction measures because of the predominant role of light limitation in this turbid environment. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

In April 1991 and October 2000 surveys were carried out along a section from the Irish Shelf to southern Greenland. Between 200 and 1500 m the temperatures increased. In the Rockall Channel and the Iceland Basin the increase, in the order of 0.5°C, is connected with a salinity increase, while only m inor differences in the 9-S diagram can be observed. In the Rockall Channel the permanent thermocline has deepened. In the Iceland Basin the Subarctic Front (also known as Subpolar Front) has shifted westwards over a distance o f 200 to 250 km. In the Irminger Sea the tem perature in the upper 1500 m has increased by a few tenths °C with minor salinity changes. This is probably a recovery from the low tem peratures in 1991. At interm e­diate levels, a decrease in salinity and tem perature is observed along the whole section, reflecting the eastward spreading of the cold vintage of Labrador Sea Water produced around 1990. The Iceland-Scotland Overflow Water along both the eastern and the western slopes o f the Reykjanes Ridge has slightly increased in tem perature, while the salinity has hardly changed. The Denmark Strait Overflow Water shows a decrease in tem perature of over 0.2°C, with a minor decrease in salinity. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

Hydrological processes on the French continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay are strongly influenced by the high freshwater run-offs from the Loire and Gironde rivers, which are expected to result in high variability of salinity distribution. However, this variability is poorly understood owing to the lack of field salinity data. Although some mesoscale structures have been recognized, most have rarely been studied specifically. Similarly, specific studies of the interannual and seasonal haline variability have not yet been carried out. Here, we analyse unpublished hydrological data collected during the 1990s. We describe several mesoscale structures: southern Brittany upwellings, lower salinity lenses (originating from river plume), and the so-called cold pool. The extent of the interannual and seasonal variability of the low salinity (S < 35) surface water is also described, and it is shown how wind and river run-off influence variability (mesoscale, interannual, and seasonal). Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

The ICES Working Group on Phytoplankton Ecology (WGPE), at its annual meeting in March 2001 in Bergen, Norway proposed that a Workshop on the impacts of nutrient enrichment on phytoplankton behaviour in coastal waters and inland seas be convened in 2002. This recommendation was in response to a Term of Reference to “prepare a draft resolution for a Workshop on the role of anthropogenic forcing in planktonic ecosystem change to be carried out in 2002”. WGPE formally recommended this action as a draft resolution in its annual report to ICES (ICES CM 2001/C:08), with the following provisions: that WGPE will prepare for a Workshop having the provisional title Contrasting approaches to understanding responses to nutrient enrichment; the mass balance versus the organism approach; that the Workshop will be convened in the The Hague, Netherlands, in March 2002, and it would be co-Chaired by T. Smayda, P. Bot and D. Mills. WGPE made this recommendation because of the increasing number of Terms of Reference that it was being asked by ICES to advise upon, and the conclusion of WGPE members that their future deliberations on eutrophication related matters would benefit by convening a workshop of experts on this issue. Following endorsement of the Workshop Resolution (C.Res 2001/2C05) at the 89th ICES Statutory Meeting, the organization of the Workshop was initiated in earnest in September 2001 by Drs. Smayda, Bot and Mills together with Dr Edler. Drs. Mills and Edler met in London in October, and again with Dr Smayda in Texel, The Netherlands, in early November, joined there also by Dr Bot. Drs. Mills and Bot also met in The Hague in October. It was agreed that the Workshop title would be Contrasting Approaches to Understanding Eutrophication Effects on Phytoplankton. At the Texel meeting, an invitation list was drawn up, and invitations sent by e-mail, primarily by Dr Smayda and Dr Mills; Dr Edler contacted some Scandinavian invitees. This was followed up by formal invitations sent by Dr Bot, whose office coordinated responses in preparing for the logistical needs of the meeting. The following report summarises the organizational procedures for the Workshop, its content, and its highly successful outcome.

Open letter to the Bureau of the Central Committee for International Marine Research on seal ecology, fishing and status in the North Sea. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 8. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 8". Publication in German.

This is the forth data call for data to be uploaded into the Regional DataBase and Estimation System. The data requested will be used by ICES expert groups and workshops directly related to the RDBES for the purposes of using the RDBES, and development of scripts to prepare for application by ICES stock assessment working groups, and Regional Coordination Groups use.

Use of otolith growth in fish age determination for Barents Sea cod. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

Final summary for Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 8. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 8"

The presentations of national and international activities related to the work of SGEAM demonstrated that ecosystem-based management and the development of indicators have become adopted by certain Member Countries, notably; the UK, Norway, Canada and the Baltic States. The methods being developed by these countries will help influence the development and implementation of an ICES-wide ecosystem-based assessment and management approach. SGEAM therefore recommends that ICES establish Regional Ecosystem Groups, REGs, to undertake the compilation and assessment of the periodic status reports from the various ICES working groups. SGEAM recommends that ICES as a beginning establish an REG for the North Sea to meet the invitation from the Bergen Declaration, which was the conclusion of the Fifth North Sea Conference held in Bergen on 20 and 21 March 2002. SGEAM also recommends, as it did in 2001, that a REG for the Baltic Sea be established. SGEAM also proposes a framework for the preparation of environmental data and assessment reports on a regular basis. SGEAM also recommends its termination, but recommends that a permanent working group should be established. Although the participation at the SGEAM meetings has not been particularly representative for the combined activities of ICES, SGEAM is of the opinion that there is a need for a forum within ICES where questions on how the ecosystem-based management approach can be implemented can be raised and discussed. A permanent working group will also be a valuable forum for exchange of national views on the development of indicators and for harmonizing the various approaches to ecosystem management.

The wintertime surface climate variations in the North Atlantic during the past 40 years were characterized by two modes of variability. The first mode is associated with decadal variations in atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperature (SST). The spatial structure of decadal SST anomaly (SSTA) variations is characterized by the existence of six large-scale regions with coherent SSTA fluctuations within each region. Four distinct decadal climatic regimes were identified during the 1957-2000 period: 1957-1971, 1972-1976, 1977-1988, and 1989-2000. The 1990-1999 decade was very warm in the North Atlantic. The second mode of variability in the North Atlantic during the past 40 years was associated with a gradual northeastward warming of surface waters, which is possibly driven by changes in the large-scale oceanic circulation. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

From 1861 to 1962 daily observations of temperature and salinity were carried out in the Marsdiep tidal inlet near Den Helder. Since 1947 similar measurements have been made in the Marsdiep on the coast of the island of Texel. Monthly mean differences for temperature and salinity were determined from the overlapping years. With these differences the Den Helder series could be extended to a homogeneous series from 1861 until 2001. The seasonal and annual mean salinities and temperatures are presented. The years 1999 and 2000 were the two warmest since 1861, and 1996 was among the five coldest years. The mean annual temperatures reflect the West European climatic variability and are highly correlated with the annual mean air temperature in Den Helder. Ice winters with monthly mean temperatures below 0°C occur generally in winters with a low NAO index. The salinity shows a persistent decreasing tendency related to increased river discharge since the beginning of the observations. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

Contribution to the biology of the cod (Gadus callarias L.) in the Danish waters. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

Report from Russia on seal biology and on seal hunting. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 8. To see all other articles and illustrations in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 8". Publication in German.

The variability of transport processes and stratification in the North Sea is investi­gated using the results of a 40-year simulation with the 3-D hydrodynamic model HAMSOM (HAMburg Shelf Ocean Model). The results show that there is consider­able variability of physical processes potentially impacting on ecosystem dynamics. Stratification and transport processes are characterized by year-to-year variability. However, resolution of decadal variability is possible. Long periods with similar strati­fication as well as transport conditions have been resolved and the 1990s have been identified as having been an outstanding period with respect to two key biologically relevant physical parameters both potentially impacting on the ecosystem dynamics; the exchange flow into the North Sea and Skagerrak in February/March and the timing of the onset of stratification in spring. There is pronounced interannual variability and a comparison of variability in different seasons indicates that the between-season correlations are small for water transports as well as for stratification conditions. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

Long-term indices of ocean climate are generally based on large scale features (e.g. NAO). Such indices are limited in providing insight on the possible response of fish because the scale of the physical processes described is far greater than the scale at which fish behaviour is understood. Process understanding of fish response to the environment is generally more obvious at the mesoscale (10–100 km, days-weeks) where oceanographic features such as fronts, plumes, upwelling or eddies occur. An understanding of fish response to climate compatible with process understanding requires that mesoscale oceanic features be detected and tracked over long period of times. The aim of the workshop was to apply automated detection of mesoscale hydrological structures in a number of coastal and oceanic systems in order to provide long-term time series of these indices. These new time-series would complement those of existing indices (e.g., regional SST, NAO, Baltic inflow, etc.). The ultimate goal is to relate time-series mesoscale indices to times series of fish populations on the basis of process understanding gained at the mesoscale by field/process studies. During the workshop, emphasis was first put on fronts and eddies which are found in many areas and are often associated with important biological processes (such as Bakun's triad of production, concentration and retention/transport). The work focussed on the identification of (1) the principal data types available for observing front and eddies, (2) the available techniques for detecting, characterising and tracking fronts and eddies, and (3) the possible indices which can be constructed in relation to front and eddies. For each, examples were provided and when possible, the method was applied to other datasets. In addition to front and eddies, indices which specifically deal with physical-biological interactions such as larval transport where considered. The Workshop recommends that ICES oceanography committee (probably through WGPBI) should review progress in the development of tools for the identification and characterisation of mesoscale physical structures in the ocean and of indices of mesoscale oceanographic features; and that ICES should also ensure that the reliability of those indices is assessed for their use in explaining spatial and temporal variability in fish populations (possibly through WGRED).

The workshop for the production of the Azorean ecoregion Ecosystem Overview (WKAZOREco), is an ad hoc group lead by the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (DOP) of the Universities of the Azores. The Workshop met to gather the scientific data and evidence for the production of the Ecosystem Overview for the AZORES ecoregion. During the workshop, the main pressures on the ecoregion were considered, ranked and the main drivers were selected as the core for the overviews and as an early message to managers. The selected pressures were Selective extraction of species, introduction of non-indigenous species and marine littering. The main human activities contributing to the top pressures (fishing, tourism and recreation, agriculture and forestry and shipping) were linked as well as the direct effects to the different ecosystem components. The workshop identified gaps in knowledge that were either filled by specialist or discussed to be filled in future. A complete draft ecosystem overview for the AZORES ecoregion was produced approved in plenary. The positive experience and the need for a permanent multidisciplinary group associated to the Azores, lead to this workshop to propose ToRs to become an ICES Integrated Ecosystem Assessment working group (WGIAZOR) in future.

The present communication is restricted to a consideration of the changes which have taken place in the haddock population of the North Sea plateau during the last decade. A census of the moving and ever-changing pop­ulation in this extensive area during the period under review has been obtained by a combination of three methods :- The collection of statistics and measurements of fish caught in the region and landed at British ports. Ichthyometrical observations made at sea on commercial vessels by the Ministry of Fisheries (England) Measurers to assess the proportions of unmarketable sizes of haddocks in the total catches from different grounds. Periodic trawling surveys of the principal haddock grounds with Standard Otter Trawl by the Scottish Research Vessel ’’Explorer” to amplify the market statistics and to obtain data with regard to the abundance and distribution of demersal haddocks of small sizes which normally escape capture by the ordinary commercial fishing gear. The ideal aimed at has been a monthly censusof the densities and distributions of the several age classes which make up the total demersal haddock population. Inludes 3 appendices: A) The Magnitude of the Destruction of Haddock of Unsaleable Sizes.(by A. B.), B) A Comparison of the Vigneron-Dahl Trawling Gear with the Ordinary Otter Trawl in the Haddock Fishery, (by A. B.), and C) The Food and Feeding Habits of the Haddock, by Alfred Ritchie, B.Sc Reports of the proceedings of a special meeting held on June 24th 1932, at Copenhagen; 'The Effect upon the Stock of Fish of the Capture of Undersized Fish'.This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 80. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 80".