The stock in the North Sea and eastern English Channel is in very poor condition. Biomass has been well below the desired level for more than ten years and fishing pressure is too high, despite zero-catch advice and, since 2025, only a limited bycatch quota.
In fisheries using demersal otter trawls, bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species is limited because the nets do not need to come into contact with the seabed, although dolphins and other marine mammals are occasionally caught. Less than 5% of the catch is discarded, but the fishery also catches overfished and unmanaged species. The fishery disrupts the food web by removing important prey species, but does not affect the seabed. CO₂ emissions are low and lost fishing gear poses a moderate risk.
The stock is only partially monitored and there is no specific management plan. Management is of limited effectiveness; enforcement within the EU is inadequate and the stock has been overfished for many years. In addition, there are concerns about working conditions and human rights violations in parts of this fishery.