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Sole, Dover sole, Common sole (Solea solea)

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Common name - Sole, Dover sole, Common sole
Scientific name - Solea solea
Rating
  • 1
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  • 5
Caught at sea Fixed net
Capture Area North East Atlantic  FAO 27
Stock Area Bay of Biscay
Stock Detail VIIIa,b,d
Summary
The stock is currently healthy and although being fished in accordance with the precautionary approach, fishing mortality is above the rate required to meet maximum sustainable yield. Avoid eating immature sole (less than 30cm) and fresh (not previously frozen) fish caught during the breeding season (April-June).
Biology
Sole is a right-eyed flatfish (eyes on the right hand side of the body) and belongs to the family of flatfishes known as Soleidae. It spawns in spring and early summer in shallow coastal water, from April to June in the southern North Sea, from May-June off the coast of Ireland and southern England, and as early as February in the Mediterranean. Common sole become sexually mature at 3-5 years, when 25-35cm long, the males being somewhat smaller than the females. It can attain lengths of 60-70cm and weigh 3kg.The maximum reported age is 26 years. Sole is a nocturnal predator and therefore more susceptible to capture by fisheries at night than in daylight.
Stock Information
The Bay of Biscay stock is classified as having full reproductive capacity, it is healthy, and the SSB above target reference points (Bpa & MSYB trigger). The stock is being harvested sustainably in accordance with the precautionary approach but is above the rate required to meet maximum sustainable yield. ICES recommends that landings in 2012 should be no more than 4000 t in order to be consistent with the MSY approach. A multi annual management plan was put in place to restore the spawning stock to 13,000 t by 2008. This target is estimated to have been achieved. A long-term target fishing mortality rate and rate of reduction to achieve this has yet to be decided. The management plan has not yet been evaluated by ICES.
Capture Information
The French fleet, which consists mainly of trawlers and fixed-nets, is the major participant with landings comprising about 90% of the total. Landings of the fixed-net fishery comprise 60%. Bycatch of non-commercial species and discards are estimated to be limited in this fishery. Beam trawling, especially using chain-mat gear, is known to have significant impact on seabed and benthic communities. It is also associated with high levels of discard. Whilst discards of sole are known to be low in the beam trawl fishery, there is substantial discarding of non-commercial species and commercial species of unmarketable size species. Minimum landing size for sole in EU waters is 24cm.
Alternatives
(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)
Read what the consumer pages of the Good Fish Guide say about this species.