• Acronym: SG-SCPSC
• Parent Committees: SB
• Term: PICES-2021 – PICES-2022
• PICES Co-Chair: Dr. Jackie R. King Jackie.King@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) and Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC) are Intergovernmental Organizations with a shared interest in Pacific salmon productivity and overlapping geographic areas of focus. A more formal relationship would be mutually beneficial; PICES could provide access to relevant marine ecosystem science through platforms such as workshops and topic sessions at Annual meetings and the PSC can provide a salmon research focus and access to salmon data for PICES scientists. Improvements in our understanding of climate change and marine factors affecting Pacific Salmon population dynamics can lead to advancements in population modeling and stock assessment research. The improved collaboration should allow PICES and PSC scientists to add value to their science, provide synergies on regional and global issues, and enhance the visibility of both Organizations. The collaboration would contribute to the success of both Organizations by:

• enhancing the current understanding of Pacific Salmon status and trends, climate change impacts and associated management implications;
• promoting the collection of, and access to, data, models and other information; and
• identifying gaps in knowledge and needs that should be addressed.

The purpose of a joint PICES-PSC Study Group on Scientific Cooperation in the North Pacific is to develop a framework of enhanced collaboration between the two Organizations to achieve a greater understanding of coastal and high seas ecosystem structure and variability, and its effect on the dynamics and production of Pacific Salmon populations. The Study Group will review each organization’s scientific needs and identify where similar key questions or scientific issues might be explored jointly by both organizations specified as follows.

1. Review existing and planned scientific activities of each organization;
2. Develop a list of potential priority areas of cooperation;
3. Identify potential collaborative mechanisms such as reciprocal consultations, representation at each other’s meetings, joint workshops and symposia, and joint Working Groups;
4. Propose practical steps for cooperation between the organizations in the near future;
5. Draft the Framework for Collaborative Research Opportunities or Memorandum of Understanding between PICES and PSC and its duration (e.g. open-ended or for a renewable 5 years).