Report of the Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak (WGNSSK)

The ICES Working Group for the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak (WGNSSK) met at ICES Headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, during 5-11 May 2010. There were 24 participants from 9 countries. The main terms of reference for the Working Group were: to Produce a first draft of the advice on the fish stocks and fisheries under considerations, to update, quality check and report relevant data for the working group, to produce an overview of the sampling activities on a national basis to update the description of major regulatory changes and comment on the potential effects of such changes, to update the assessment of the stocks and to set MSY reference points (FMSY and MSY Btrigger) The group also met by correspondence in September 2010 to carry out assessments of the sandeel in the North Sea and the second of the biannual assessments of the North Sea Pout; and by correspondence in October of 2010 to provide update forecasts for stocks with survey information collected after the May meeting.