The ICES Working Group for the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak (WGNSSK) met at ICES Headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, dur-ing 27 April – 3 May 2012. There were 21 participants from 8 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 and to update the assessment of the stocks.