Report of the Working Group on the Assessment of Southern Shelf Demersal Stocks (WGSSDS), Sec 1-2

It was decided at the 86th Annual Science Conference (C.Res.1998/2:4:10) that the Working Group on the Assessment of Southern Shelf Demersal Stocks [WGSSDS] (Chair: A. Biseau, France) would meet at ICES Headquarters from 1-10 September 1999 to:

a) assess the status of and provide catch options for 2000 for stocks of cod, whiting, plaice, and sole in Divisions VIIe–k, sole in Sub-area VIII, hake in Sub-areas III, IV, VI, VII, VIII, and IX, anglerfish and megrim in Subareas VII, VIII, and IX, taking into account technical interactions in mixed species fisheries;

b) review progress in determining precautionary reference points.