The hake stock in the Skagerrak and Kattegat, the North Sea, waters west of Scotland, the Celtic Seas, the northern and central Bay of Biscay, and Iberian waters is doing reasonably well. Although biomass remains above sustainable levels, the stock has been declining in recent years. Current fishing pressure is relatively high and is expected to cause the stock to decline further in the long term.
Fishing with demersal longlines may catch seabirds, sea turtles and other protected species (ETP) as bycatch. Discards are expected to be limited, and bottom longlines cause less damage to the seabed than active bottom fisheries, although sensitive habitats may still be affected. CO₂ emissions and the risk of lost fishing gear are low, but the consequences for the food web are still insufficiently understood.
Management is considered partly effective. The fishery is jointly managed by the European Union, the United Kingdom and Norway through catch limits, but the current measures are insufficient to further reduce fishing pressure. Enforcement and the monitoring of vulnerable species could be improved. There is no FIP available, and only around 0.0003% of this fishery is MSC-certified.