Working Group for the Northwest Atlantic Regional Sea (WGNARS; outputs from 2025 meeting)

The Working Group on the Northwest Atlantic Regional Sea (WGNARS) helps develop scientific support for integrated ecosystem assessments (IEAs) of the Northwest Atlantic region and to support ecosystem approaches to science and management. The objectives of WGNARS over the last three years were to explore the use and expansion of tools to provide scientific advice on understanding to meet management objectives in marine social-ecological systems. These tools include: operationalization of indicators for IEAs, expanded use of conceptual models, increased transparency in methodology and data uses (e.g. reproducible reporting), and expanded uses of novel communication tools.WGNARS also provided workshops, seminars, and a networking session to explore additional tools and knowledge to expand IEA and ecosystem-based management. In 2023 WGNARS hosted a workshop on the use of habitat indicators in ecosystem science. The following year, WGNARS held a seminar on incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and Local Ecological Knowledge into science advice and decision-making and led an ICES Annual Science Meeting networking session exploring different communication methods and tools for reaching diverse audiences to advance ecosystem approaches to management.Future work of WGNARS will build on the current efforts to improve transparency in the delivery of scientific advice and the use of novel methods to engage and communicate with rightsholders and stakeholders. We will increase bilateral collaboration on the development and application of social-cultural, economic, habitat, ecological, and climate indicators for operational use in management and decision-making.