Möllmann, Professor for Fisheries Science at the University of Hamburg, was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award, which signifies the highest level of recognition for services to ICES science. Cheung, Associate Professor at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia and Director of Science of the Nippon Foundation-UBC Nereus Program, was awarded the Prix d’Excellence. Awarded every three years, the Prix d’Excellence takes into account contributions that are made both within the ICES region and throughout the world.
Möllmann’s involvement with ICES have included helping to move forward towards an ecosystem based approach to fisheries. He has been part of expert groups such as those on Baltic Sea and North Sea integrated assessments – WGIAB and WGINOSE – and on Integrated advice for Baltic Sea ecosystem-based fisheries management, WKDEICE.
“He has had leading contributions to further ICES processes, linking to ICES initiatives and work for the future. He has also mentored many students and had an outstanding teaching career,” said the chairman of the awards committee Carl o’Brien of Möllmann.
Prix d’Excellence recipient Cheung was presented with the award in part based on his strong research record, which has looked at responses and vulnerabilities of marine ecosystems and fisheries to global change. His work has integrated multiple disciplines, from oceanography to ecology and from economics to social science, and has spanned local to global scales.
Cheung currently serves as scientific advisor for a number of prestigious organizations such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and WWF Canada. He has been involved in ICES-PICES Strategic Initiative on Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems (SICCME) and been involved in several international projects that bridge science and policy, such as the International Panel on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
‘One of his most outstanding attributes is that he’s seen by his peers as one of the most dynamic, creative and innovative researchers of his generation. He’s regarded very highly by his peers and has made a real difference in the field of climate change and fisheries science over the last ten years,” said O’Brien.