The ICES Science Committee continues to support ICES science to grow in scale, scope and impact. The general objectives of the Science Committee are to work with the ICES community and Secretariat to keep the ICES science programme dynamic, internationally relevant, and impactful; to ensure seamless links between science, data, and advice; and to engage with scientists in ICES member countries and beyond by planning an annual cycle of meetings and workshops as well as the Annual Science Conference. 2023 has again seen immense commitment and tireless work of the whole network, including all individual scientists and especially the Secretariat helping the network to conduct its work. One new steering group chair was elected in September 2023 to lead the Ecosystem Observations Steering Group. The incoming chair will work with the current chair to ensure a smooth transition for 1 January 2024. The Strategic Initiative on the Human Dimension is transitioning to the Human Dimension Steering Group (HUDISG). The HUDISG Chair has started in September 2023 to steer the transition together with the outgoing SIHD Chair. Notable activities in 2023 included, (i) substantial work on the Science Plan Evaluation; (ii) development of elements for the stakeholder engagement strategy implementation plan; (iii) development of expert group chair training; (iv) process on developing roadmap for Offshore and Marine Renewable Energy Development (OMRE); (v) approval of data preservation plan, (vi) approval of paper collections for expert groups in the library; (vii) approval to join Ocean Practice Federated Network; (viii) furthering the engagement of new scientists participating in the ICES community; (ix) an increased frequency and strategic emphasis on science communication; (x) increasing the links between science and advice; (xi) maintaining and further develop international collaborations; (xii) fostering activities to increase links between national activities and ICES; and (xiii) the ICES Annual Science Conference in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain, including dedicated activities for Early Career Scientists. These activities have taken place alongside the continued delivery of science outputs and publications by the expert groups. One hundred and twelve working groups and forty-six workshops, supported by seven steering groups, were active in 2023. Expert group meetings in 2023 again saw a very high number of new participants and had a higher overall attendance than in pre...