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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Plaice, American

© B. Guild Gillespie/www.chartingnature.com

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Alaska Plaice			U.S. Pacific	Wild-caught
American Plaice		Dab	U.S. Atlantic	Wild-caught

Atlantic Flatfish

Atlantic flatfish, such as flounder and sole, have been overfished and are rated as "Avoid."

Consumer Note

The term flatfish

includes flounder, sole, plaice and halibut. Some Atlantic flounder species are sold as sole; however, "true" sole only occur in the Pacific Ocean. Atlantic flatfishes are known as hirame when prepared for sushi.

Health Alert

Environmental Defense Fund has issued a consumption advisory for winter and summer flounder due to high levels of PCBs.

Summary

Many different species of flatfish live off the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to Florida. They're fished mainly with trawls, a method that involves towing a net close to the seafloor. Trawls are problematic as they disturb and destroy the seafloor habitat and accidentally catch large quantities of bycatch.

Flatfish populations off the Atlantic coast have experienced heavy fishing pressure from domestic and international fleets over the last half-century. Many species are at very low levels, particularly Atlantic halibut and some populations of yellowtail flounder. Despite a management plan intended to allow flatfish populations to rebuild in the Atlantic, most are still declining. All Atlantic flatfish species are currently on our “Avoid” list.

Recipe Alternatives
Pacific soles such as English, Dover, petrale and rex are "Good Alternatives."

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

Atlantic Flatfishes Seafood Watch Report
Southern Flounder Seafood Watch Report
Trawling Fact Card

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