Marine

Press release – Cornelius Hammer elected new ICES president at Council meeting

October 27, 2015 by Marine Directorate Communications No Comments | Category Marine News from other Organisations

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has elected Dr. Cornelius Hammer as its new President for a three-year term.

Hammer, Deputy President of the Thünen Institute in Germany and until recently the director of the Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries in Rostock, Germany, was previously ICES First Vice-President and German Delegate to the organization. His research interests include the swimming physiology of fish, bioenergetics of fish, fishery management and alternative management approaches, and recruitment of fish stocks.

“During my time as president, ICES will increase its focus on integrated ecosystem assessments and the supporting data and has thus started to create a scientific foundation for the implementation of the ecosystem based approach. All this work will be reflected in ICES delivering more integrated scientific advice,” said Hammer, who will assume his new role for the period November 2015–October 2018.

“It is important for us to develop our other priority areas such as the Arctic and aquaculture – presenting our state-of-the-art science, highlighting where we can add value, and holding discussions with stakeholders to listen to their needs and wishes.”

“I am very much looking forward to the next three years, and want to ensure close cooperation with the expert community, the driving force behind ICES work, as well as all our member countries.”

Alongside the presidential appointment, Danish delegate to ICES Fritz Köster was elected as First Vice-President to replace Hammer whilst US delegate Bill Karp was elected as a Vice-President, replacing Piotr Margonski.

Other developments at the Council meeting included the decision for the Council Steering Group on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) to include broader ecosystem approach considerations, and the creation of a Council Strategic Initiative on Transatlantic Cooperation to work amongst other things with the Transatlantic Ocean Research Alliance. A roadmap for ICES Arctic work and the incorporation of the outputs from the Aquaculture Dialogue Meeting into the work of the expert groups were also agreed upon.

Outgoing president Paul Connolly wished his successor and his team the very best for the years ahead.

Further Information

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