Preparing an IEA for the Central Arctic Ocean (CAO) gives ICES a central role in this remote and changing ecosystem. This is a crucial step to providing scientific advice on issues such as the prospect for future fisheries in the Arctic Ocean and the sensitivity and vulnerability of the ecosystem and its components to shipping.
The working group also aims to improve the understanding of climate and ecosystem variability of the core ICES area in the North Atlantic as well as in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska in the North Pacific.
WGICA will consider approaches and methodologies for the IEA in the Central Arctic Ocean. collecting data and carrying out analyses in the process. Core research areas will be identified and the outline of the CAO ecosystem will be developed.