Flounder - European

Dispatch Method:

The eating qualities of European flounder can be greatly improved if they are killed humanely by iki jime or a firm knock to the head before placing them in an ice slurry after bleeding.

Fish Description:

• European flounder are a right eyed flounder, meaning that they have both eyes on the right side of the body - when viewed with their dorsal fin on top their head points to the left. However, in around 30% of cases individual fish may have their eyes on the left side.
  
• This species is a relatively stocky flounder, which is typically about half as wide as its length. It is usually brown or drab olive/green in colour and has several large spots on the upper surface. Like other flatfish, European flounder can change colouration to suit their background.
  

Fish Distribution:

• This species occurs throughout the coastal waters of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, including North Africa. It has also been accidentally introduced to the east coast of North America via ballast water.
  
• Juvenile European flounder live in estuaries and coastal lagoons, frequenting areas of soft sediment especially near seagrass beds.
  
• Adults can live in estuaries or offshore out to near the continental shelf . but return inshore and into estuaries seasonally in spring and early summer, before migrating back offshore in the fall.

Fish Size Common Length:

30-45 cm (12-18 inches), maximum size around 60 cm (24 inches) and 2.9 kg (6 lb).