The report The Bering Sea Ecosystem assesses the current scientific understanding of the Bering Sea; reviews of the biology, geology, physics, chemistry of the Bering Sea ecosystem; discusses human uses of the ecosystem; and explores the nature of cause and effect in the ecosystem. It considers the implications for management and policy, and identifies research needs, including opportunities for interagency and international cooperation. The study committee was chaired by Dr. Robert C. Francis, University of Washington, Seattle.
The division produces 60-70 reports per year. These reports are unique, authoritative expert evaluations. Each report is produced by a committee of experts selected by the Academy to address a particular statement of task and is subject to a rigorous, independent peer review. The experts who volunteer their time participating on study committees are vetted to make sure that the committee has the range of expertise needed to address the task, that they have a balance of perspectives, and to identify and eliminate members with conflicts of interest. All reports undergo a rigorous, independent peer review to assure that the statement of task has been addressed, that conclusions are adequately supported, and that all important issues raised by the reviewers are addressed. Thus, while the reports represent views of the committee, they also are endorsed by the Academy.