Report of the North Western Working Group (NWWG), Sec 1

The North Western Working Group (Chair: J. Boje, Denmark) met at ICES Headquarters from 26 April to 4 May 1999 to:

a) assess the status of and provide catch options for 2000 for the stocks of oceanic redfish in Sub-areas V, XII and

XIV, Greenland halibut in Sub-areas V and XIV, cod in Sub-area XIV, NAFO Sub-area 1 and Divisions Va and

Vb, saithe in Divisions Va and Vb and haddock in Divisions Va and Vb;

b) for cod, haddock and saithe in Division Vb, where an effort control management system is in effect, estimate the

probability profile of fishing mortalities which would be generated under the current effort control scheme and

provide effort options which have a high probability (>80 %) that the realised fishing mortalities in 2000 would

correspond to the fishing mortality identified as within safe biological limits;

c) update survey and fishery information on the stocks of redfish in Sub-areas V, VI, XII and XIV;

d) review progress in determining precautionary reference points;

e) consider further possibilities for the incorporation of biological interactions into the assessment of capelin,

herring, and cod stocks;

f) update information on the stock composition, distribution and migration of the redfish stocks in Sub-areas V and

XIV and comment on the possible relationship between pelagic “deep sea” Sebastes mentella and the Sebastes

mentella fished in demersal fisheries on the continental shelf and slope;

g) propose in consultation with WGNPBW, a Scientific Steering Group for the planned Symposium on “Capelin –

What Are They Good For? Biology, Management and the Ecological Role of capelin.