WGSPEC studies mechanisms
that link the variability of small pelagic fish (i.e. anchovy,
sardine, sardinella, sprat and herring) populations, in different ocean basins under large-scale
climatic forcing. Considering its ecosystem context, WGSPEC gathers
together scientists representing relevant disciplines such as physical
oceanography, atmospheric sciences, fisheries, plankton. WGSPEC members represent
different northern and southern European countries and are actively involved
either in the ICES or in the Mediterranean
Science Commission (CIESM).
WGSPEC met the
first time in 2010, contributing to organize the workshop on “Anchovy, Sardine
and Climate variability in the North Sea and Adjacent Areas”. In 2011, WGSPEC worked by correspondence, but
organized two very successful workshops: (i) ICES/PICES Workshop on Reaction of
Northern Hemisphere Ecosystems: A comparison (WKNORCLIM) and (ii) ICES Workshop
on Basin-wide Impact of Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, AMO (WKAMO).
In 2012, WGSPEC had its second meeting in Fuengirola, Spain, with 26
participants from 10 countries, including 13 CIESM scientists. The focus of the
discussion was a comparison of climatically induced changes in distribution and
abundance of small pelagic populations from off NW Africa in the south to the
Barents Sea in the north, including the Mediterranean.
