The western horse mackerel stock is declining and is probably overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term. .
The fishery with [midwater otter trawls] is quite selective, because horse mackerel swims in schools high in the [water column]: there is little bycatch of other species. There is no interaction with the seafloor. Horse mackerel is considered to be one of the most important predatory fish in the North Sea. It has possibly an impact on ecosystem via the [food chain].
Horse mackerel is managed with [catch limits]. In 2007 a management plan has been made by the pelagicPelagic trawls:
In pelagic trawling, a trawl is pulled through the water column. The net is not towed across the seabed. RAC (Regional Advisory Council). This plan is being used since 2008 in determining the TAC (Total Allowable Catch)