European flounder is often landed as bycatch from flatfish fisheries. Fishing pressure is unknown, but so far appears to have no negative effects on the stock. The stock appears to be stable or increasing, but data availability for this species is very limited.
All fishing methods (anchored gillnets, demersal otter trawls, pulse trawls and beam trawls) have a negative impact on the ecosystem. These methods can also have negative impacts on other, sometimes endangered, species, such as harbour porpoises and various seabirds. Overall, discard rates are fairly high in these fisheries, but the exact percentage of discards and bycatch is not known for all fishing methods.
There is no management plan specifically for European flounder. The general management framework established by the European Common Fisheries Policy is partially effective for this species.