Plaice

Plaice is widespread throughout the North Atlantic and the Barents Sea. It is commercially one of the most important flatfish species. Holland, Denmark and the UK are main catching nationas and the fish is a very popular food item.

Habitat

The plaice lives in areas with clayey and muddy sea bed conditions, at depths between 10-50 m, but can be found down to 200 m.

Biology

The plaice spawns during winter. The most important spawning grounds are off the coast of Holland and Belgium. The fish often digs itself into the sand or clay at the bottom, where it feeds on various crustaceans and small fish.

Catching Methods

Ring nets, bottom trawl and beam trawl. Beam trawl is very common in the southern part of the North Sea, but Royal Greenland has chosen not to purchase fish caught using this method, since it is under suspicion for damaging the environment.

Catching Area

Nutritional Value

The plaice is low in saturated fat and high in protein, while at the same time being low in calories. Plaice contains Vitamin D, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Phosphorus and Potassium, and is a very good source of Protein, Vitamin B12 and Selenium.

Size

Typical size: 25-40 cm

Name

Latin: Pleuronectes platessa

German: Scholle/Goldbutt

French: Plie d'Europe/Carrelet

Spanish: Solla/Platura

Italian: Passera/Platessa

Danish: Rødspætte

Dutch: Schol/Plaat

Portugese: Solha avessa

Inspiration

Feeding by Day

The plaice is almost blind at night, so while it feeds on various molluscs, worms and small fish during the day, the only thing it eats during the night is a special kind of starfish with glow-in-the-dark arms.

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