The Governing Council (GC) is the decision-making body of the Organization composed of national representatives. The scientific and administrative functions, procedures and membership of GC are described in Articles V-VII of the PICES Convention and in Rules 3-9 of the Rules of Procedure.

An Executive Committee is a permanent committee reporting directly to GC. With the approval of GC, an Executive Committee may establish subsidiary bodies to meet the needs of the Organization.

• F&A The Finance and Administration Committee (F&A) is an Executive Committee responsible for overseeing financial and administrative matters and effectiveness of the Organization. Details on the functions, membership and leadership of F&A are described in Rule 19 of the Rules of Procedure.

• SB The Science Board (SB) is an Executive Committee responsible for overseeing the scientific activities of the Organization. Details on the functions, membership and leadership of SB and on the nomination and election procedure for the SB Chairman are described in Rules 12 and 17 of the Rules of Procedure.
• Subsidiary Bodies
• PICES Committees AP-ARC AP-ECOP AP-SciCom AP-UNDOS FUTURE-SSC WG 49 SG-GREEN

The Scientific and Technical Committees are established by SB, with the approval of GC, as ongoing groups and are organized according to scientific or technical subjects. Each Committee is responsible for overseeing the activities of their subsidiary bodies and for determining priorities for consideration by SB and GC. Details on the functions, membership and leadership of the Committees and on the election procedure for a Committee Chairman are described in Rules 13, 14 and 17 of the Rules of Procedure.

Scientific Committees are responsible for the planning, direction, and overseeing of major themes within the Organization’s general scientific aims.

• BIO Biological Oceanography Committee
• Subsidiary Bodies
• S-CC S-CCME S-MBM WG 46 WG 47 WG 48 WG 53

• FIS Fishery Science Committee
• Subsidiary Bodies
• S-CCME WG 44 WG 45 WG 53

• HD Human Dimensions Committee
• Subsidiary Bodies
• WG 44 WG 51 WG 53

• MEQ Marine Environment Quality Committee
• Subsidiary Bodies
• AP-NIS WG 42 S-HAB

• POC Physical Oceanography and Climate Committee
• Subsidiary Bodies
• AP-CREAMS S-CC S-CCME WG 46 WG 50

Technical Committees are responsible for facilitating the technical and operational activities required to support the Organization’s science.

• TCODE Technical Committee on Data Exchange
• Subsidiary Bodies
• AP-NPCOOS WG 52

• MONITOR Technical Committee on Monitoring
• Subsidiary Bodies
• AP-NPCOOS AP-CREAMS

A Scientific Program is established by SB, with the approval of GC, to address major scientific questions of general interest to the Organization. The Scientific Program typically places significant demands on the Organization for periods of up to a decade. The Program has an organizational structure recommended by SB, and SB serves as the Scientific Steering Committee of the Program.

• FUTURE Science Steering Committee
• Subsidiary Bodies
• AP-ECOP AP-SciCom WG 49

Expert Groups (Sections, Working Groups, Advisory Panels, Study Groups, etc.) are organizational entities created by decision. Details on the functions, membership and leadership of various Expert Groups are described in Rules 13, 15 and 17 of the Rules of Procedure.