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Sole, Dover or common
Solea solea
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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 25-35 cm long, the males being somewhat smaller than the females. It can attain lengths of 60-70 cm and weigh 3kg.The maximum reported age is 26 years.
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ADVICE
Dover or common sole stocks in Celtic Sea, North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, and Bay of Biscay are classified as healthy and harvested sustainably. The Eastern English Channel population is healthy but fishing effort is too high and stock levels in the Western Channel are unknown, in relation to precautionary levels. The state of the stocks in SW and W Ireland are unknown. Stocks in the Irish Sea are depleted and a closure of the fishery is recommended - Avoid eating. Dover sole from the Hastings Fleet trammel net, gill net and otter trawl fisheries in the Eastern English Channel are certified as environmentally sustainable fisheries by the Marine Stewardship Council. Avoid eating immature sole (less than 28cm) and fresh (not previously frozen) fish caught during the breeding season (April-June).
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