Witch
Atlantic Ocean, northeast (FAO 27)
Bottom trawls
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Flatfish often lie partly hidden in the sand. The upper side has good camouflage colouring, while the underside is white. They have a flattened body and eyes on the upper side. A flatfish larva does not have a flattened shape, but the “normal” shape of a fish. After about six weeks, one eye moves to the other side, close to the other eye. From then on, the flatfish swims with its blind side underneath and both eyes on top. The best-known flatfish species in the Netherlands are plaice and sole. Dab, turbot, brill, flounder and megrim are also common in the North Sea.
Witch, righteye flounder or torbay sole is a flatfish species that is not very well-known. It is not very popular for consumption and is mostly caught as by-catch in bottom fisheries such as beam trawls and demersal otter trawls. The species can reach a length of 60 cm and weigh up to 2,5 kg. Witch is a relatively thin fish with a small head and its eyes on the right side of the body. They are most common in the deeper parts (50-1000m) of the North Sea, Skagerrak and surrounding waters. The spawning seasons is from spring till autumn.
Atlantic Ocean, northeast (FAO 27)
Bottom trawls
Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.
Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.
This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.
This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.
Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.
There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.
GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.
Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.