Massimiliano Cardinale receives the prestigious ICES Outstanding Achievement Award 2026

The Outstanding Achievement Award is one of ICES’ most prestigious awards and has been presented annually since 2005. Only one person receives the award each year, and previous recipients include some of the most distinguished names in international marine and fisheries research.

– I am somewhat between happy and surprised to receive such prestigious award, which bring me along with several others truly ICES giants. I have greatly enjoyed my 30 years work at ICES and I hope I can continue at least a bit closer to my retirement, which I wish it would be sooner, but someone needs to put a good word with the Swedish Pension authorities for that. I would like to thank the ICES Award Committee for the nomination and all colleagues I have been working together with in my 30 years of ICES, I learned so much from each of them and really enjoyed working together. Last, I am also very proud of being from a fisherman family in a small island of the Mediterranean Sea, so many of my relatives have been fisherman during the last 300 years of Ponza history, and I have been working as a professional fisherman myself during my youth, which gave me a deep connection and passion for the fisheries world. I still think that to truly understand fisheries science, you need to be able to think as a fisherman and to experience the ocean from a fisheries perspective. At least I believe this has helped me a lot in my career. Thanks again to the entire ICES community, very proud and happy to be part of it, says Max

The award recognises members who have made significant contributions to ICES and its international scientific community over an extended period. It is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to ICES science and its application in management and policy, helped develop ICES as a dynamic international organisation, supported and mentored early-career scientists, enriched and influenced the work of ICES networks, and strengthened the value of ICES’ work for member countries and other stakeholders.

– We are incredibly proud and happy that Max’s long and productive research and advisory work to develop better stock assessment models is receiving the international recognition it deserves, says Peter Utgenannt, Head of Division at the Institute of Marine Research.

– Max’s thirty years with us at SLU Aqua and the Institute of Marine Research have been characterised by a unique combination of scientific curiosity and strong drive. The award is richly deserved, and we are so proud to have Max as a colleague. He now joins a small but exclusive group of international scientists who have received the ICES Outstanding Achievement Award, says Daniel Valentinsson, unit manager at the Institute of Marine Research.

Read more about the award and the citation on the ICES website