This species does not approach the range thresholds for Vulnerable under Criterion B (extent of occurrence (EOO) < 20,000 km², area of occupancy (AOO) < 2,000 km²) or D2. There is no evidence that any population size reduction approaches the threshold for Vulnerable under Criterion A (≥ 30% over the past ten years or three generations). The population size does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under Criterion C (< 10,000 mature individuals) or D1, and there exists no quantitative analysis of extinction probability which would permit application of Criterion E.

Therefore, the Common Bleak does not currently meet the thresholds for any Red List criteria, and it is assessed as Least Concern.

This species is native to the majority of Europe, plus a portion of northwestern Central Asia.

In the European Atlantic basin, it is naturally present from rivers draining to the Oslofjord in southern Norway to the Adour River system in southwestern France, and also occurs in southeastern Great Britain.

Across the remainder of Europe, it inhabits most rivers draining to the Baltic, western Black and northern Azov sea basins.

In the Mediterranean Sea basin, its range is limited to southern France plus the Maritsa (el. Eβρος/Evros) River system in the northern Aegean basin.

In Central Asia, it occurs in the Volga, Ural and Emba river systems in the northern Caspian Sea basin.

It has been widely introduced outside of its native range, and is established in central and southern Great Britain, the Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, Algeria, the Lika River system in Croatia and the island of Cyprus. Its introduction to Italy is widely reported but has not been unequivocally confirmed due to confusion with native taxa.

In Russia, non-native subpopulations are reported from Lake Abrau in the federal subject of Krasnodar Krai, an artificial accumulation lake connected to the Pechora River in Komi Republic, and throughout the upper Ob River system, where it is also present in Kazakhstan.

This species' population size is unknown, but it significantly exceeds the minimum threshold for Red List criteria (< 10,000 mature individuals). The current population trend has not been quantified, and the number of subpopulations is unclear.

Overall abundance is understood to be increasing in some parts of its non-native range.

This gregarious, small-bodied species mostly inhabits lotic to semi-lotic environments and occurs from sea-level to altitudes of c. 1,800 metres AMSL. It has a wide oxygen and temperature tolerance, is able to colonise lentic and heavily-modified habitats, and tends to be particularly abundant in eutrophic and mesotrophic waters.

Fluvial subpopulations inhabit low-velocity stretches of both natural and regulated river channels, including floodplains, side-channels and canals, while lacustrine subpopulations are found in lakes, marshlands, oxbows and artificial reservoirs.

It is an omnivorous, opportunistic forager which typically feeds in open water close to the surface. Native subpopulations prey largely on zooplankton and free-swimming invertebrates plus flying and terrestrial arthropods which fall into the water.

The composition of the diet can shift depending on habitat and food availability, however, and can also include benthic macroinvertebrates, organic detritus, plant material and the eggs of other fish species.

In lakes, some subpopulations undertake circadian feeding movements from the littoral to the pelagic zone, and foraging is often more intensive at night at sites where predatory fishes are abundant.

In winter, adults often form sizeable aggregations in backwaters and along riverbanks with overhanging riparian vegetation or submerged woody structures.

There is some phenotypic variation between subpopulations inhabiting different habitat types, with those occupying rivers tending to possess a deeper overall body shape plus longer pectoral and pelvic fins than those in lakes.

This species is considered to be invasive outside of its natural range, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula where it has become widespread and linked to a series of endemic fish declines since the 1990s. Introduced subpopulations are characterised by rapid and substantial increases in abundance which may negatively affect native fish species through competition for food and habitat resources, deterioration of water quality and transmission of diseases or parasites. Its successful expansion is attributed to its non-specialised biological traits (high fecundity, broad diet, wide temperature tolerance) and has apparently been facilitated by dam construction and other forms of river regulation.

The maximum recorded lifespan is 8-9 years, while individuals mature at age 2-3+ and a size of 85-120 mm standard length. Fecundity is highly variable, and can range from c. 1,700-12,000+ spawned eggs per female.

The annual reproductive period extends from spring to summer, varying somewhat with latitude and generally coinciding with water temperatures rising above 14°C. Some subpopulations undertake upstream or lateral migratory movements to spawn.

In larger rivers, spawning occurs in small tributaries or temporally-inundated areas such as floodplains, including oxbows that become connected to nearby river channels during periods of high flow.

The eggs are scattered over submerged macrophytes, woody debris or fine-grained sediment, and are sometimes transported downstream before settling in nursery zones which tend to be located along channel banks.

The larvae initially remain in shallow, still, often vegetated, habitats, while juveniles aggregate in slow-moving environments such as side-channels.

Lacustrine subpopulations tend to migrate into flowing tributaries to spawn.

This species is able to hybridise with congeners and members of related genera including Abramis, Blicca, Leuciscus, Rutilus and Squalius. The reproductive viability of such hybrids has not been extensively-studied, but the phenomenon represents a concern in parts of its non-native range where endemicity is naturally high, e.g., the Iberian Peninsula.

This species is often described as eurytopic and is demonstrably capable of thriving in highly-modified and even polluted aquatic environments. No major threats have been identified.

This species is fished for human consumption in some parts of its natural range, and is typically prepared by frying.

It is often introduced to recreational fisheries as a food source for predatory species such as Northern Pike (Esox lucius), Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) and Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides). It is also used as live bait, and is considered to be an easy target by anglers.

Its scales were in the past harvested to produce Essence d'Orient, a preparation for coating glass beads to make imitation pearls.

This species occurs within the boundaries of numerous protected areas, many of which are included in the European Union's Natura 2000 network.