ICES has launched fisheriesXplorer, an interactive online tool that makes key fisheries data easier to view, use, and download.
The platform replaces static PDF reports with live charts and direct data access, giving managers, policymakers, and industry faster insight into who is fishing, what is being caught, and how stocks are changing across ICES ecoregions.
The tool went live in December and marks a significant shift in how ICES presents fisheries information. Data that once sat in long, fixed documents is now updated online and linked straight to ICES databases.
Users can explore trends, download figures, and follow links to related advice products in one place.
From static PDFs to live data
Since 2017, ICES has published Fisheries Overviews to bring scattered data together for each ecoregion. These reports covered who was fishing, landings, pressure over time, and links to the broader ecosystem.
By 2021, all 11 ICES ecoregions with fishing activity were included. But producing dense PDF reports for each area had become difficult to maintain.
Sarah Millar, Head of Advice at the ICES Secretariat, said the old approach had reached its limit. Drawing data directly via APIs now makes the system easier to update and scale, while reducing the workload behind the scenes.
Faster updates and more transparency
One key driver was timing. Some data, such as landings, change annually. Stock status may change more frequently as new guidance is released. An online tool lets users view the latest information rather than relying on a snapshot from a past report.
The move also improves transparency. Users can click charts, view the underlying data in a single view, and download the data directly. Links to other ICES products add context without leaving the platform.
Built to grow
fisheriesXplorer is built with open-source code and reflects a broader ICES shift towards open, digital products. It builds on lessons from adviceXplorer, which was developed in response to European Commission requests for more interactive advice tools.
The platform launched with three modules: an ecoregion overview, interactive time-series landings, and stock status summaries, including trends and Kobe plots. More modules are planned, including vessel monitoring system (VMS) data in 2026.
Lead developer Luca Lamoni has invited users to share feedback, stressing that the tool is designed to evolve with users’ needs.
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