ICES/FAO WGFTFB22 cancelled or postponed

Dear WGFTFB members,

ICES regrets to inform you that all Committee and Expert Group meetings, whether in-person, online or hybrid, scheduled between 7 March and 1 April 2022 will be cancelled or postponed. This unfortunately effects the meeting of the Joint ICES/FAO Working Group on Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour (WGFTFB).

This is in response to the crisis in Europe which is compromising the participation of experts and making collaboration across the network difficult or impossible. Effective national participation in ICES groups is important for the integrity of our work and is critical for the provision and quality of data, science, and advice. The Council will be working to develop a longer-term strategy regarding this crisis and this will communicated as soon as possible, but before 1 April.

We are aware this will be very disruptive to your ICES work, but given the importance of ensuring all our member countries can contribute to the work of the organization, this drastic measure is critical to provide the time needed for a Council decision that can guide our work in these difficult times. Until a Council decision has been made we are unable to plan new meeting dates.

Anto, Daniel, and Jon (WGFTFB Chairs) on behalf of the ICES Chairs of Advisory Committee and Science Committee