Report of the Working Group on Assessment of Demersal Species in the North Sea

The objectives of the Group were to produce, for each of the stocks of cod, haddock, whiting, plaice and sole:- (a) a historical review of the fishery, and (b) an assessment of the present stage of these stocks with particular reference to the effects of changes in mesh-size and fishing effort. In view of the magnitude of the task and the relatively short time available the Group decide to make mesh-assessments their primary objective and to devote such time as remained to the historical review and to effort assessments.