Norway request for a technical review of the MAREANO programme

ICES concludes that overall the programme produces and delivers data products, maps, and dissemination materials that are in accordance with sound scientific standards and which meet the needs of the assumed objectives of the programme.

ICES advises that, following the forthcoming user review, a clear set of programme objectives for the MAREANO programme are defined and published.

ICES concludes that the external communication of MAREANO’s results generally works well, both in terms of products and of target groups by making reports, publications, and map products available to policy-makers, the general public, and to the scientific community. ICES further concludes that the data produced by the programme are available to potential users and that the future quality and availability of these data is largely secured. Some improvements are suggested to ensure that outputs are of greatest use to others.

While the external communication is in reasonably good shape, ICES advises all parties implementing MAREANO to strengthen the internal communication and data exchange. This includes improving transparency of decision-making, better consideration of internal data users, and ensuring that all information and data are available across the programme.

ICES advises that the considerable external data holdings should be used more effectively by MAREANO, and that development of data collection standards would enhance the usefulness of future data collection external to MAREANO.

ICES advises that better use should be made of information from physical samples of the benthos than is currently the case.