LAT Solea solea
FRA Sole
ITA Sogliola comune
ESP Lenguado común
GER Seezunge
ENG Dover Sole

All you need to know about Dover Sole

A Highly Prized Flatfish

Along with turbot, sole is considered one of the most delicate flatfish. Their flesh is white, aromatic, juicy and has a firm consistency. In particular, specimens from Brittany and Normandy are among the best among gourmets. Frying the fish to a golden brown brings out its natural roasted aromas and slightly nutty flavour.

We recommend skinning the sole (whole or as fillets). This is because the tiny, chewy scales fall off quickly after preparation and can be uncomfortable to eat.

Interesting to Know

The dover sole is a right-eyed flatfish, which means both eyes are on its right side. It lives in the Atlantic, from Norway to Senegal, and also in the Mediterranean and western Black Sea. The sole prefers coastal sandy bottoms at depths of 10 to 60 meters. During the day, it buries itself in the sand to hide from predators. At night, it actively hunts for polychaete worms, thin-shelled mollusks, and small crustaceans. Furthermore, the sole has a distinctive survival skill: when threatened, it mimics the toxic weever fish, which other fish avoid.

Dover sole reach sexual maturity at 3 to 5 years of age, at a size of 25 to 35 cm. They can grow to a maximum of 60 cm and 2 kg. For spawning, these fish sometimes undertake long, pelagic migrations to specific areas. Spawning typically occurs between February and June, depending on the population.

Fisheries and Sustainability

Fishers mainly catch dover sole using various bottom trawls and set nets. The species is sensitive to overfishing because it has a long lifespan and can live for over 20 years. As a result, the health of dover sole populations varies by region. While the species is overfished in the Mediterranean, other populations are mostly healthy. For example, stocks in the Northeast Atlantic (like the North Sea, English Channel, and Bay of Biscay) allow for sustainable harvesting.

As a typical bottom-dwelling fish, dover sole is usually caught with bottom trawls or set nets. Although bottom trawling can often cause significant damage to the seafloor, this fishing method can be considered an exception for the dover sole. The impact on the mostly sandy bottoms where it resides is significantly smaller than, for example, in reef environments, making it a more environmentally acceptable method in this case.