Report of the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel Working Group

At the 73rd Statutory Meeting it was decided (C.Res.1984/2:4:3) that the lrish Sea and Bristol Channel Working Group (Chairman: Dr K Brander) should meet at lCES headquarters 4-11 March 1986 to:

(a) assess the status of and provide options for 1987 inside safe biological limits for cod, whiting, plaice and sole by appropriate stock units in Divisions Vlla,f,g;

(b) review developments in the application of the multispecies models to mixed fisheries in the Irish Sea and examine the implications for management advice;

(c) provide to ACMP by late May 1986 for its Study on the state of the environment (north and south boundaries defined respectively) information on: Regional Assessment in the lrish Sea as 55DN and 52o N,

- the state of the fish stocks in the lrish Sea and Bristol Channel,

- the extent to which these stocks have changed over the last 10 years,

- the extent to which any changes have been brought about by man's activities, including fishing,

- the extent to which any noted changes could have been predicted.