该组织的目标是：促进与协调有关北太平洋北部及相邻海域的科学研究，发展有关海洋环境、全球天气与气候变化、生物资源与生态系统以及人类活动影向。主要宗旨是提高对北太平洋区域及其生物资源的认识，促进该地区内海洋科学研究、情报资料的收集与交流。该组织的决策机构为理事会，各缔约国派两名代表参加理事会。理事会下设两个委员会，4个专业委员会和6个工作组。中国积极参加了该组织的各项活动。

The North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), an intergovernmental scientific organization, was established in 1992 to promote and coordinate marine research in the northern North Pacific and adjacent seas. Its present members are Canada, Japan, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America.