The Norway pout species is distributed from the west of Ireland to Kattegat, the North Sea to the Barents Sea, and at the Faroe Islands (ICES 2017).  The population considered here is that occurring in the northern North Sea and in Skagerrak, correspondent to the ICES assessment unit in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a. There is no known basis at present for separating the North Sea pout component into smaller stock units; although pout in the eastern Skagerrak demonstrate some self-containment, it is only to a very small degree (ICES 2009). Beginning in 2016, ICES stock assessment advice is provided only once annually, while formerly advice and management TACs were revisited biannually (ICES 2016). 

Norway pout in this region are taken in a directed fishery and also as bycatch in the blue whiting fishery (ICES 2017). The species is harvested for reduction purposes, nearly exclusively by large vessels from Denmark and Norway using small-mesh gear. Main fishing grounds are in the northern North Sea and particularly at Fladen Ground along the Norwegian Trench.