The Steering Committee of the Regional Database & Estimation System (SCRDB) provides the governance function for both the existing Regional Database (RDB) and the new Regional Data-base & Estimation System (RDBES) that is currently in development. It is composed of represent-atives from ICES member countries and EU Regional Coordination Groups (RCGs). In this report the SCRDB reviews the RDBES development performed during 2019 and plans for the work re-quired in 2020 and beyond. It also considers how RDB data has been used and proposes changes required to the current Data Policy. The recurring question of how to fund the RDBES develop-ment is also considered and the positive way forward provided by ICES is described.

The RDBES is currently planned to replace both the existing InterCatch and RDB database sys-tems in 2022 and has an important part to play in increasing transparency and improving the quality of stock assessment within ICES. To this end a number of workshops have been planned for 2020 which will both help data submitters with the transition to the new system and encour-age more people to be involved in the process. A data call is also planned for 2020 which will give further motivation for people to become involved and provide a robust test of the process. The RDBES must ensure that sample data can be used by the RCGs and authorised groups in ICES whilst ensuring that only permitted users have access to the confidential data. Thus, the Data Policy is very important and must strike a balance between encouraging greater use of the data whilst respecting the legal restrictions that apply to it. It is important to remember that the ultimate success of the RDBES will rely on the effort and contributions from a large number of people in the wider ICES/EU data collection community and not just the relatively small groups who attend the SCRDB or Core Group meetings. The SCRDB must, and will, encourage and champion these contributions.