Turbot

Turbot is a flatfish that can reach up to 1 meter and can get 25-30 kg with an age of 25 years. Turbot is more and more farmed, that is, grown under controlled conditions.

Recirculation systems means that the water used in the farm is pumped around multiple times and is filtered with biofilters. Water usage is minimised in this way and is a more sustainable way of aquaculture. The water is kept at an optimum for good growth by sampling the water regularly and the monitoring of several parameters.

The ecological effects of the farms score well for turbot, but the feed uses much fish oil and fish meal. Next to that they can make a step towards more sustainability by only using sustainable ingredients for the feed. This is not the standard yet.

Turbot is mainly bycatch in the plaice and sole fishery. Research on turbot has been done in 2017. This showed that the stock is above reference points and the fishing pressure below the reference points.

The gillnet fishery is a selective fishing method, but there is too little known about the quantity of bycatch of other species and young fish. The fishery has a very limited impact on the seabed. A problem with this fishery is that there are incidental bycatches of species like dolphins, porpoises and sea birds. These are often vulnerable, protected and endangered species.

There is no specific stock management for turbot, but there is a joined TAC for turbot and brill. This is however not based on scientific advice and not effective in regulating the fishing pressure. There is no official minimum landing size for turbot, but Dutch producer organisations have voluntarily a landing size of 25-30 cm.

Research on turbot has been done in 2017. This showed that the stock is above reference points and the fishing pressure below the reference points.

Most turbot is caught as bycatch in the beam trawl fishery on sole and plaice. More than half is discarded and has a low survivability. Fishing with beam trawls touch the bottom and there is direct disruption of the bottom life. Intensive fishing with the beam trawl leads on the long-term to changes in species composition in the sea.

There is no specific stock management for turbot, but there is a joined TAC for turbot and brill. This is however not based on scientific advice and not effective in regulating the fishing pressure. There is no official minimum landing size for turbot, but Dutch producer organisations have voluntarily a landing size of 25-30 cm.