ICES Stakeholder Engagement Strategy

The Stakeholder Engagement Strategy outlines the key principles of stakeholder engagement and defines the roles of both stakeholders and scientists in the engagement. It specifically takes a broad definition of stakeholder as “those who affect or are affected by a decision, process, or action of ICES” and focuses on the roles and responsibilities in concrete engagement situations. The strategy gives general guidance and mission for ICES community on how to organize stakeholder engagement, with concrete details and guidance being developed in the implementation plan. It lists the scope, context, and rationale for engagement, and describes the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and researchers. It is required because stakeholder engagement is increasingly important in the work of ICES. Workshops and meetings are organized to consult stakeholders on knowledge needs, methods, data, and, more broadly, their expert knowledge, and incorporate this knowledge into the science and the evidence base for advice. Engagement occurs with experts in the network as well as with the Secretariat and the committees. Fora for engagement on a high level are the meetings with the requesters of ICES advice (MIRIA) and the Advisory Councils and observers to our advisory process (MIACO). The observer policy covers part of ICES interactions with organizations and individuals. However, for wider engagement, a strategy and subsequent implementation plan is required to harmonize and coordinate a transparent engagement and to ensure the credibility of the science and advice being produced by ICES.