ESSAS 2026

ESSAS 2026 – Draft Program

The schedule below provides a draft overview of the meeting structure; a detailed program with individual presentations will be provided closer to the conference.

The SSC meeting will be held on Friday 26 June at the main campus.

Monday 22 June

17:00–21:00
Icebreaker & informal gathering

Tuesday 23 June

09:00–09:15
Welcome

09:15–10:00
Keynote: Steven Campana
Cod dynamics and the changing roles of humans and the environment over 1100 years of fishing

10:00–10:45
Gadids under Borealization: Ecology, Fisheries, and Management

11:00–11:30
Break

11:30–13:00
Gadids under Borealization: Ecology, Fisheries, and Management

13:00–14:00
Lunch

14:00–15:15
Gadids under Borealization: Ecology, Fisheries, and Management

15:15–15:45
Break

15:45–16:30
Lightning talks

16:30–17:15
Poster session & refreshments

Wednesday 24 June

09:00–09:45
Keynote: Kaitlyn O’Brien
Spatiotemporal Quantification of Bering Sea Borealization: Advancing Fisheries Management through Spatial Dynamic Factor Analysis

09:45-10:45
Tracking Borealization: Physical Change, Biological Responses, Community Impacts

10:45–11:15
Break

11:15–12:45
Tracking Borealization: Physical Change, Biological Responses, Community Impacts

12:45–13:45
Lunch

13:45–15:00
Communities
Marine Heatwaves: Impacts on High Latitude Ecosystems from Physics to Biology and Human

15:00–15:30
Break

15:30–16:15
Communities
Marine Heatwaves: Impacts on High Latitude Ecosystems from Physics to Biology and Human

18:00 onward
Conference dinner (transport provided)

Thursday 25 June

09:00–09:45
Keynote: Beatriz S. Dias
Exploring the impacts of marine heatwaves in the Gulf of Alaska through an ecosystemic perspective.

09:45–10:45
Connections across the Subarctic Atlantic: Physics to Fish, Fjords to Gyres, Surface to Seafloor

10:45–11:15
Break

11:15–13:00
Connections across the Subarctic Atlantic: Physics to Fish, Fjords to Gyres, Surface to Seafloor

13:00–14:00
Lunch

14:00–15:30
The Effects of Multiple Drivers on Arctic and Sub-Arctic Coastal/Fjord Environments: Bridging Marine Chemistry and Biology

15:30–16:00
Break

16:00–17:15
The Effects of Multiple Drivers on Arctic and Sub-Arctic Coastal/Fjord Environments: Bridging Marine Chemistry and Biology

17:15
Closing

Evening (optional)
Sea angling excursion

The meeting theme is “Borealization: Subarctic and Arctic Marine Systems in Transition.”
Sessions include:

• Marine Heatwaves: Impacts on High Latitude Ecosystems from Physics to Biology and Human Communities
• Tracking Borealization: Physical Change, Biological Responses, Community Impacts
• Gadids under Borealization: Ecology, Fisheries, and Management
• Connections across the Subarctic Atlantic: Physics to Fish, Fjords to Gyres, Surface to Seafloor
• The Effects of Multiple Drivers on Arctic and Sub-Arctic Coastal/Fjord Environments: Bridging Marine Chemistry and Biology

All sessions are designed to span natural and social sciences and to cover systems from the coast to the deep sea.

A detailed program will be announced closer to the date.

1. Marine Heatwaves: Impacts on High Latitude Ecosystems from Physics to Biology and Human Communities
   Co-chairs: Bia Dias, Ben Fitzhugh, Angel Ruiz Angulo
   
   This session invites contributions examining the impacts of marine heatwaves (MHW) on high-latitude systems. We welcome papers that (1) situate marine heatwaves within the broader climate–oceanographic context, including physical mechanisms, cross-system comparisons, food-web restructuring, and ecosystem functioning under sustained heat stress; (2) present species-specific case studies that document ecological, economic, and social impacts of MHWs on important fish or shellfish, their fisheries, and dependent communities in high-latitude systems; and (3) explore adaptations by affected communities and management systems to warming events throughout human history, including strategies that integrate ecological and socioeconomic information to build resilience in rapidly changing oceans.
    
2. Tracking Borealization: Environmental Change, Biological Responses, Community Impacts 
   Co-chairs: Franz Mueter, Pavel Emelin, Jacob Kasper
   
   This session will document and quantify observed changes in Subarctic and Arctic marine ecosystems that illuminate the extent of borealization—including evidence that both supports and challenges it. We welcome studies on the direction and pace of change in key oceanographic and biogeochemical properties; shifts in species distributions and community composition from plankton to fishes, seabirds, and marine mammals; and changes in human communities (e.g. harvest patterns, population trends). Contributions that develop integrated indicators and spatially explicit metrics to map the footprint of borealization and identify hot spots are especially encouraged.
    
3. Gadids under Borealization: Ecology, Fisheries, and Management
   Co-chairs: Ben Laurel, David Coté, Caroline Bouchard
   
   Rapid borealization is reshaping SubArctic and Arctic marine ecosystems, with gadid fishes (e.g., cod, pollock, and haddock) playing a central ecological and socio-economic role. This session explores how warming, changing ice regimes, and altered food webs are influencing gadid distribution, life history, trophic interactions, and productivity. We will highlight emerging patterns in recruitment, growth, and predator–prey dynamics, and examine consequences for Indigenous, subsistence, and commercial fisheries. Integrating observations, modeling, and management perspectives, the session aims to identify knowledge gaps and discuss adaptive strategies to sustainably manage gadid populations in rapidly changing northern seas.
    
4. Connections across the Subarctic Atlantic: Physics to Biology, Fjords to Gyres, Surface to Seafloor
   Co-chairs: Warsha Singh, Guðbjörg Ásta Ólafsdóttir, Kumiko Azetsu-Scott
   
   This session explores the interconnected physical and biological processes that structure Subarctic Atlantic ecosystems across spatial and temporal scales. We invite contributions examining how ocean physics, topographic features, and climate variability influence biological communities from fjord systems to the open ocean, and from surface waters to the deep seafloor. Studies integrating observations, modelling, and interdisciplinary perspectives are particularly encouraged. By linking processes across habitats and trophic levels, this session aims to improve understanding of ecosystem connectivity, resilience, and change in a rapidly warming and increasingly variable Subarctic Atlantic.
    
5. The effects of multiple drivers on Arctic and Sub-arctic costal/fjord environments; bridging marine chemistry and biology
   Co-chairs: Sam Rastrick, Melissa Chierici, Agneta Fransson, Naomi Harada, Kumiko Azetsu-Scott
   
   Arctic and Subarctic coastal and fjord ecosystems are highly productive and central to carbon cycling, food security, and local communities, yet they face rapid climate change, increase in natural disaster, and growing industrial pressures. This session invites studies that quantify how climate change (warming, acidification, deoxygenation, freshening, eutrophication), and marine industry e.g. aquaculture, tourism, mineral extraction and sources of other marine contaminants) alter biogeochemistry and biology across environmental gradients. We especially welcome work that integrates laboratory experiments with field observations and bridges marine chemistry with ecology. Contributions that place industry–environment interactions in the context of accelerating climate change are encouraged.

The meeting is organized as a single-track (plenary) program integrating keynote lectures, thematic sessions, lightning talks, and a dedicated poster session.

Oral presentations are 15 minutes in total, including questions. Presenters are kindly asked to upload their presentation files to the conference computer during the break before their session.

Poster presenters are offered the opportunity to present either:

• a poster only, or
• a poster + lightning talk. Lightning talks are 5 minutes with no formal discussion time.

Lightning talk slots will be allocated in advance and communicated to presenters prior to the conference. We will offer poster printing and hanging (at cost). Please indicate your preference to the local organizing committee (ESSAS2026@hi.is) before or on May 10.

Please register using the links below:

Regular participant

• Early-bird (until 21 March): 45,000 ISK
• Regular (after 21 March): 50,000 ISK
  • Buy regular ticket
• Includes: Access to all sessions, lunches, coffee breaks, welcome reception, conference materials

Student / early-career (MSc, PhD, postdoc)

• Early-bird (until 10 May): 20,000 ISK
  • Buy early bird ticket, student
• Regular (after 10 May): 25,000 ISK
  • Buy regular ticket, student
• Includes: Same as above (discounted rate)

Optional conference dinner at MFRI

• Early-bird (until 21 March): 12,000 ISK
• Regular (after 21 March): 12,000 ISK
  • Buy dinner ticket
• Includes: Catered dinner at MFRI, guided introduction/tour, round-trip bus transport

Optional sea-angling excursion

• Early-bird (until 21 March): 10,000 ISK
• Regular (after 21 March): 10,000 ISK
  • Buy ticket
• Includes: Afternoon excursion from Reykjavík Harbour, capacity 40 people

Icebreaker

The icebreaker will take place in Litla torg, Háskólatorg, at the University of Iceland on the evening of 22 June (17:00–21:00), with light refreshments.

Conference Dinner

The conference dinner will be held on the evening of 24 June at the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (MFRI). The MFRI is located in nearby town Hafnarfjörður with a beautiful harbor setting. Expect a 20 minute bus ride to the venue.

The evening includes:

• A short introduction to the MFRI
• A catered dinner in the dining hall
• Bus transport between the University of Iceland / downtown Reykjavík and Hafnarfjörður / MFRI

Bus departure: 18:00 from the University of Iceland.

Note that dinner tickets should be purchased separately.

Sea-angling excursion

A voluntary afternoon sea-angling excursion from Reykjavík harbor will be offered on June 23 (limited capacity; additional cost). Details will be provided closer to the meeting.

Main venue - Saga Building – Room S-261

The meeting is being held in plenary. The conference building is located on the main University of Iceland campus in central Reykjavík. Please see the interactive map for more information.

The conference room and registration desk will be located on the second floor. Please see floor map for more information.

Registration Desk

The registration desk will be open at the Icebreaker event and during the conference.

Catering included in the registration fee:

• Icebreaker
• Coffee breaks: morning & afternoon
• Lunch: provided daily
• Posters session: refreshments included

Additional refreshments are available at Háma coffee shops around campus. Other restaurants at campus are located at the Nordic house and at the National museum.

Getting to Reykjavík

The main international airport is Keflavík International Airport (KEF) located ~45 minutes from Reykjavík. There are some options for Airport to City Transport.

Flybus / Airport Direct

• Most common option
• Tickets can be purchased online, on plane (Icelandair) and at service desks found within the airport.
• Buses run after every flight
• Drop-off at main hotels or central terminal BSÍ (central terminal is conveniently located for city center and university).
• Cost ~3.500 ISK

Taxi

• Cost ~18,000–22,000 ISK
• Faster but expensive. Please see: Taxi to and from KEF

Rental cars

• Many rental car providers have desks at arrivals

Public / city bus (Strætó)

• Few options for many flights but the schedule can be found here. See also information below.

Getting to the Venue

Many hotels and guesthouses in central Reykjavik will be close to the main University campus.

From central Reykjavík:

• 15–20 min walk
• 5–10 min taxi
• Public buses available (Strætó). Routes: 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 and more.
  • Route planner: (stop: Haskoli Islands). Easy to use but you will need their app: Klappið

• Weather: Typically, 8–15°C. Conditions can change quickly; expect a mix of sun, wind, and rain. Layered clothing is recommended.
• Daylight: Very long days (midnight sun conditions). It remains light late into the evening and night.
• There are numerous restaurants and convenience stores in Reykjavik center but fewer options directly in the University area.
• Water: Tap water is safe and of excellent quality.
• Currency: Icelandic króna (ISK). There are ATMs everywhere, but cash is rarely used.
  Credit/debit cards and contactless payments are accepted everywhere. Tipping is not required.
• Safety: Reykjavík is very safe. Emergency number: 112

ESSAS (Ecosystem Studies of Subarctic and Arctic Seas) is an international regional program that seeks to understand how climate variability and change affect marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them in the Subarctic and Arctic.

Members of the ESSAS SSC will contribute to the scientific program and abstract review. 

Local Organizing Committee (LOC):
•    Guðbjörg Ásta Ólafsdóttir (chair), University of Iceland
•    Jacob Kasper (MFRI)
•    Warsha Singh (MFRI)
•    Einar Pétur Jónsson (MFRI)
•    Michelle Valliant (UI)
•    Angel Ruiz Angulo (UI)