Skagerrak is a unique ecosystem with a large diversity of habitats and species, but the management of the fisheries resources has shortcomings to be addressed. Here we shed light on the current management situation for a range of commercially valuable species in Skagerrak. Some of these species show increasing trends in abundance while others are declining. However, in either case, we argue that species and fisheries will benefit from improved management, but to succeed, Norway, Sweden and Denmark must come together and develop a data- and research-based unified local management plan to underpin a sustainable utilization of Skagerrak's sea food resources in the future.