Russia temporarily suspended from ICES activities

The council of delegates of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) have voted to place a temporary suspension on all Russian Federation delegates, members, and experts from participation in ICES activities.

The suspension, which is already in place, will be monitored by the ICES Bureau (Executive Committee). When appropriate, the bureau will recommend a reversal of the suspension.

The decision was made after a number of ICES member countries instructed their scientists and representatives to either boycott or avoid engagement in activities where representatives of the Russian Federation, also an ICES member country, are present.

The instructions to either boycott or avoid engagement came in the weeks following the start of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

ICES said it requires “broad participation of essential experts” in various activities in order to fulfil the council’s mission and obligations to requesters of ICES Advice.

The council said the war in Ukraine is “undermining this broad participation in many multilateral science organisations.”