In 2019 several Danish and Dutch fisheries on common sole (solea solea) were MSC certified within the ‘Joint Demersal Fishery‘. These fisheries fish in Skagerrak, Kattegat and the North Sea. They use miscellaneous gear to fish for sole, otter trawls, Scottish and Danish seines, longlines and the controversial beam trawl.
Please note: Good Fish does not recommend the MSC beam trawl sole
Fisheries that target sole and plaice use several types of bottom trawls, with varying impact on the seafloor and different ranges of CO2 emissions. The least sustainable gear is the beam trawl. Good Fish is critical towards the certification of the beam trawl. The recommendation for sole and plaice, caught with the beam trawl, has a RED rating on our seafood guide. We advice supermarkets and consumers to avoid this fish.