International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES; French: Conseil International de l'Exploration de la Mer, CIEM) is the world’s oldest intergovernmental science organization. ICES is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, where its multinational Secretariat staff of 51 provide scientific, administrative and secretarial support to the ICES community. It was established on July 22, 1902 in Copenhagen.

ICES is a leading multidisciplinary scientific forum for the exchange of information and ideas on all aspects of marine sciences pertaining to the North Atlantic, including the adjacent Baltic Sea and North Sea, and for the promotion and coordination of marine research by scientists within its member nations. Its principal functions, both when it was established and continuing to the present time, are to: (i) promote, encourage, develop, and coordinate marine research; (ii) publish and otherwise disseminate results of research; and (iii) provide non-biased, non-political scientific advice to member nation governments and international regulatory commissions.

In the late 19th century, a growing concern over the well-being of fish stocks in the North Sea coupled with efforts by different groups of scientists in neighbouring countries to promote and encourage international scientific marine cooperation resulted in the establishment of ICES on July 22, 1902 in Copenhagen, Denmark by eight founding nations: Denmark, Finland,Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and the United Kingdom. The Council’s membership has fluctuated over the years with nations joining/leaving/rejoining at different times as a result of wars and political decisions.

An exchange of letters among the original eight member nations was sufficient to establish the Council in 1902. This type of arrangement continued until the early 1960s when this informal status became unacceptable in light of the establishment of the United Nations and its subsidiary bodies as well as other international organizations. Steps were initiated to achieve full international recognition of the Council by the host country Denmark. At a conference convened in Copenhagen on September 7, 1964, a formal Convention was signed which subsequently came into force on July 22, 1968 following its ratification by the then 17 member nations.

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