How ICES has shaped elasmobranch knowledge, assessment, and policy in the Northeast Atlantic

At the inception of the ICES Journal of Marine Science, first published in 1926, elasmobranchs were largely peripheral to fisheries science. Beyond a few commercially valuable species such as basking shark and spurdog, knowledge of occurrence, life history, population structure, and trends of the ∼105 elasmobranch species occurring across the ICES area was limited. This is reflected in the fact that the first elasmobranch-focused paper in the Journal was published by Holden and Meadows in 1964. However, as commercial fisheries expanded and population declines and local extirpations were documented in the late 20th century, elasmobranchs gained increasing attention from both commercial and conservation perspectives. The ICES Working Group for Elasmobranch Fishes, established in 2003, pioneered methods for estimating removals and stock status despite significant data limitations. From issuing the first advice sheets for six “stocks” in 2005, the group now provides assessments for 56 stocks—more than any other ICES assessment group. This review traces the evolution of elasmobranch science within ICES, examining advances in data quality, assessment methodologies, and the shifting priorities that have transformed this taxon from a marginal concern to a central focus of marine conservation and fisheries management. Past and present Working Group Chairs provide perspectives on key developments, persistent challenges, and future directions for elasmobranch research and advice.