Joint ICES/EUROMARINE: Workshop on common conceptual mapping methodologies (WKCCMM; Outputs from 2021 meeting)

The Joint ICES/EUROMARINE Workshop on Common Conceptual Mapping Methodologies (WKCCMM) aimed to advance approaches to support inter- and transdisciplinary science via qualitative conceptual models to inform Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) throughout Eu-ropean seas and beyond. The workshop focused on developing a common understanding of conceptual mapping meth-odologies, their key uses and limitations, and processes for effective conceptual modelling with stakeholders for a variety of applications (e.g. developing food-webs, socio-ecological modelling, scoping exercises, rapid/initial management action and/or impact evaluations). Discussion in-volved presentation and discussion of a range of conceptual modelling approaches and contexts through the examination of case studies. These case studies gave rise to a suite of recommenda-tions, including the development of a workflow for IEA, and more generic guidelines and best practice advice for the use of conceptual modelling approaches with stakeholders. Although stakeholders were not able to be included in this workshop, they were very much at the heart of discussions, with the challenges and good practices of stakeholder inclusion addressed. WKCCMM also investigated how the methodologies can be best used to contribute to IEA, and may otherwise be applied throughout the ICES community, including identifying opportunities for cross-collaboration and knowledge transfer within the network.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Working group on ecosystem assessment of Western European shelf seas (WGEAWESS)

The ICES Working Group on Ecosystem Assessment of Western European Shelf Seas (WGEA-WESS) aims to provide high quality science in support to holistic, adaptive, evidence-based man-agement in the Celtic seas, Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast regions. The group works towards developing integrated ecosystem assessments for both the (i) Celtic Seas and (ii) Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast which are summarized in the Ecosystem Overviews (EOs) advice products that were recently updated. Integrated Trend Analysis (ITA) were performed for multiple sub-ecoregions and used to develop an understanding of ecosystem responses to pressures at varying spatial scales. Ecosystem models (primarily Ecopath with Ecosim; EwE) were developed and identified for fisheries and spatial management advice. The updated Celtic Seas EO represents a large step forward for EOs, with the inclusion of novel sections on climate change, foodweb and productivity, the first application of the new guidelines for building the conceptual diagram, inclusion of socio-economic indicators, and progress made toward complying with the Transparent Assessment Framework (TAF). We highlight ongoing issues relevant to the development and communication of EO conceptual diagrams. A common methodology using dynamic factor analysis (DFA) was used to perform ITA in a comparable way for seven subregions. This was supported by the design and compilation of the first standardized cross-regional dataset. A comparison of the main trends evidenced among subregions over the period 1993–2020 was conducted and will be published soon. A list of available and developing EWE models for the region was also generated. Here, we re-port on the advances in temporal and spatial ecosystem modelling, such as their capacity to model the impacts of sector activities (e.g. renewables and fisheries) and quantify foodweb indi-cators. We also reflect on model quality assessment with the key run of the Irish sea EwE model. The group highlighted the hurdles and gaps in current models in support of EBM, such as the choice of a relevant functional, spatial, and temporal scales and the impacts of model structure on our capacity to draw comparisons from models of different regions. The group aims to ad-dress these issues in coming years and identify routes for ecosystem model derived information into ICES advice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Roles for advisory science in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)

What role should science take when providing advice in support of policy and politics? Should a provider of science-based advice have its own position on the issues it provides advise on? Or should it be as impartial as possible from the value and policy context of the advice? This theme, long debated, gained new attention in fisheries and marine governance. Starting from theoretical concepts and stylised models, this study attends to a theory-practice gap by investigating concrete advisory practices. We analyse roles that the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) takes when producing and delivering science-based advice. ICES is an interesting case because its long history as advice provider offered it unique opportunities to consolidate and refine its advisory role. Published by the Advisory Committee in ICES, the 2021 “Guide to ICES advisory framework and principles” describes the overarching framework to ICES advice and the principles it builds on. Based on this guide, we analyse the forms of science-policy interactions and roles that ICES takes as advisor, how these roles are enabled, and the challenges they involve. We find that ICES takes different roles vis-` a-vis policy and society for different contexts in which it provides advice. Our analysis of ICES’ advice portfolio provides lessons on how different advice products can be developed through structured processes in a way that helps to bridge the boundary between science and policy and support the enactment of what ICES sees as appropriate advisory roles