Established in April 2011, the Marine Steering Group (MSG) of the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) is responsible for the implementation of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Plan, the first of four pan-Arctic biodiversity monitoring plans developed by the CBMP to improve the detection and understanding of the causes of long-term change in the composition, structure and function of Arctic ecosystems.

The MSG is composed of one representative and an alternate from each Arctic marine nation as well as representatives from interested Permanent Participants. The MSG can include other members (e.g., Arctic Council Working Group representatives) as appropriate.

Each representative on the MSG is responsible for ensuring that the monitoring program is implemented within their own nation, and therefore have close connections with the relevant agencies and experts within their countries. They will play a key role in providing direction to the evolving monitoring program as a whole. Together with the CBMP Office, the MSG will be responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of the monitoring program.

Marine Steering Group members

*indicates current lead/co-lead

Country/PP	Representative
Norway	Eirik Pettersen Norwegian Environment Agency alternate Dag Vongraven Norwegian Polar Institute
Russia	Vadim Mokievsky P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology Russian Academy of Sciences
Greenland*	Thomas Juul Pedersen Greenland Institute of Natural Resources alternate Fernando Ugarte Greenland Institute of Natural Resources Rikke Guldborg Hansen Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
Canada	Glenn Benoy Fisheries and Oceans Canada Alain Dupuis Fisheries and Oceans Canada
U.S.A.	John Bengtson National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Catherine Coon Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Faroe Islands	Jan Sørensen Kaldback Marine Bio Lab
Iceland*	Steinunn Hilma Ólafsdóttir Icelandic Institute of Natural History
Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)
Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP)	Janet Pawlak AMAP Secretariat
Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)	Elizabeth McLanahan National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CBMP Advisor
CBMP Co-Chair representatives	Tom Christensen Aarhus University-Arctic Research Centre Catherine Coon Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
	Kári Fannar Lárusson