An ESSAS (Ecosystem Studies of Sub-Arctic Seas) Project Office is to be located in the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen. ESSAS was established as a Regional Programme within International GLOBEC to compare, quantify and predict the impact of climate variability and global change on the productivity and sustainability of sub-Arctic marine ecosystems. ESSAS is guided by a Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) with membership from 7 countries and functions in an activist and participatory role. The Co-C hairs are Drs. George Hunt (USA) and Ken Drinkwater (Norway).
The goal of the ESSAS project office will be to facilitate the ESSAS activities. The Office will be run by the ESSAS Coordinator, under the direction of ESSAS Co-chairs. The Coordinator wil l also collaborate with the rest of the SSC, various ESSAS project leaders and key participants. The co-chairs together with the SSC are responsible for strategy and planning of the Office.