Plaice in the Western English Channel is currently fished at sustainable levels, but a new advice method highlights that stock biomass is below sustainable levels. There is no management plan in place for this fishery, but there are some measures in place. Beam trawls have significant impacts on the seabed, including damage to benthic communities and vulnerable marine habitats. They can also have high bycatch, potentially of vulnerable species.Last updated: July 2025

Plaice in the Western English Channel is currently fished at sustainable levels, but a new advice method highlights that stock biomass is below sustainable levels. There is no management plan in place for this fishery, but there are some measures in place. Otter trawling is likely to cause some damage to the seabed. Bycatch is moderate and may include vulnerable species.Last updated: July 2025

Plaice in the Western English Channel is currently fished at sustainable levels, but a new advice method highlights that stock biomass is below sustainable levels. There is no management plan in place for this fishery, but there are some measures in place. Gillnets in this area can encounter bycatch of non-target fish, mammals and birds. This includes the harbour porpoise which is vulnerable in Europe.Last updated: July 2025

Irish Sea plaice are harvested sustainably but there is concern for biomass stock. There is no management plan in place for this stock. There are some measures but more must be done to reduce discards. Beam trawls have significant impacts on the seabed, including damage to benthic communities and vulnerable marine habitats. They can also have high bycatch, potentially of vulnerable species. In the Irish Sea, there is concern over levels of bycatch of the vulnerable cod and whiting stocks.Last updated: July 2025

Irish Sea plaice are harvested sustainably but there is concern for biomass stock. There is no management plan in place for this stock. There are some measures but more must be done to reduce discards. Otter trawling is likely to cause some damage to the seabed. In the Irish Sea, there is concern over levels of bycatch of the vulnerable cod and whiting stocks.Last updated: July 2025

The stock of plaice in the North Sea and Skagerrak is considered underfished but remains harvested at sustainable levels. There is no management plan for North Sea plaice, and discard rates remain high. However, some measures are in place and have successfully recovered the stock. Total Allowable Catches (TACs) currently follow ICES' MSY-based approach. Otter trawls are likely to cause some damage to the seabed. Bycatch is moderate, but can include vulnerable species such as North Sea cod.Rating last updated October 2025.

The stock of plaice in the North Sea and Skagerrak is considered underfished but remains harvested at sustainable levels. There is no management plan for North Sea plaice, and discard rates remain high. However, some measures are in place and have successfully recovered the stock. Total Allowable Catches (TACs) currently follow ICES' MSY-based approach. Beam trawls have significant impacts on the seabed, including damage to benthic communities and vulnerable marine habitats. They can also have high bycatch, potentially of vulnerable species, including North Sea cod.Rating last updated October 2025.

For more information about this rating please visit: https://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/plaice.php

There is concern for biomass and fishing pressure of plaice in the Celtic Sea and Bristol Channel. There is no management plan for this stock, but some measures are in place which are only partly effective. Discarding is high. Otter trawling is likely to cause some damage to the seabed. Bycatch is moderate and may include vulnerable species.Rating last updated July 2024.

There is concern for biomass and fishing pressure of plaice in the Celtic Sea and Bristol Channel. There is no management plan for this stock, but some measures are in place which are only partly effective. Discarding is high. Beam trawls have significant impacts on the seabed, including damage to benthic communities and vulnerable marine habitats. They can also have high bycatch, potentially of vulnerable species.Rating last updated July 2024.

Updated: July 2021.This is a data limited stock and no reference points are available. The stock has been in a poor state since 2002, and fishing mortality has been above sustainable levels since 1993. There is no recovery plan to return the stock to sustainable levels and current management measures are not enough to recover the stock. Plaice are taken as a minor bycatch in a mixed fishery with sole. Otter trawlers interact with the seabed and can modify bottom topography and cause damage and removal of some biogenic features including vulnerable marine habitats and benthic communities. In the Eastern Channel, scars related to bottom trawling are difficult to identify due to predominant sandy sediments. Otter trawls can also encounter occasional bycatch of vulnerable species.

Updated: July 2021.This is a data limited stock and no reference points are available. The stock has been in a poor state since 2002, and fishing mortality has been above sustainable levels since 1993. There is no recovery plan to return the stock to sustainable levels and current management measures are not enough to recover the stock. Plaice are taken as a minor bycatch in a mixed fishery with sole. Beam trawling, which mostly operates on muddy seabeds, can have a high impact on benthic habitats and may catch endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species.

Updated: July 2020.

This stock is at a healthy level and fishing pressure is within sustainable limits. There are no reference points for this stock and proxies are used instead, therefore the assessment is indicative of trends only. There is no direct management plan for plaice in the Baltic Sea, but it is recognised in the Baltic multiannual plan (MAP) as a bycatch species. The MAP empowers member states & the European Commission to adopt measures to maintain bycatch stocks at healthy levels according to the best available science. The main concern is the level of discarding, which can be as much as 100% in some cases (when plaice is bycaught in the cod fishery). This is despite the Landing Obligation, and indicates poor levels of compliance and enforcement.

Updated: July 2020.

This stock is at a healthy level and fishing pressure is within sustainable limits. There are no reference points for this stock and proxies are used instead, therefore the assessment is indicative of trends only. There is no direct management plan for plaice in the Baltic Sea, but it is recognised in the Baltic multiannual plan as a bycatch species. The MAP which empowers member states & the European Commission to adopt measures to maintain bycatch stocks at healthy levels according to the best available science. The main concern is the level of discarding, which can be as much as 100% in some cases (when plaice is bycaught in the cod fishery). This is despite the Landing Obligation, and indicates poor levels of compliance and enforcement. Gillnetting in the Baltic Sea is likely to be adversely affecting the critically endangered central Baltic Sea harbour porpoise population.