Report of the PICES/ICES Workshop on Biological Consequences of a Decrease in Sea Ice in Arctic and Sub-Arctic Seas (WKBCASAS)

ICES/PICES Workshop on Biological Consequences of Decreases in Sea Ice in Arctic and Sub-Arctic Seas (WKBCASAS) met in Seattle, Washington, USA, on 22 May 2011. The objective of this meeting was to assess the biological consequences of decreased sea ice and possible changes in water temperature in Arctic and Sub-Arctic seas. Workshop participants reviewed life-history information and habitat associations of commercial species of fish and shellfish to assess the risk of immigration and settle-ment of new biological populations in the Arctic Ocean and surrounding shelf seas in response to the retreat of sea ice. Criteria necessary to establish new species in the Arctic Ocean and surrounding areas were developed and compared to expected con-ditions based on climate scenarios. Opportunities for cooperation in information sharing between groups charged with managing the Arctic was discussed and re-ported to scientists within ESSAS as well as PICES and ICES.