According to the news report Ekofish Group-North Sea twin rigged otter trawl plaice has been certified as sustainable on the 4th of June 2009. The main species is plaice and the location is central North Sea (ICES: area IVb) between Scotland and Denmark. The fishing methods used in this fishery is demersal otter trawl. The mesh sizes of the nets vary from 120 – 140 mm, depending on fishing area.
It is told that plaice is a demersal species generally living on sandy substrates but may also be found on mud and gravel. The species is easily identified throughout its life history. As juveniles and adults, plaice have a striking appearance and can be readily distinguished from other flatfish species by their general colour and markings.
It is informed that plaice is a shallow water species found from the near coast as juveniles down to around 150 metres in northern waters. In the North Sea it is generally found in depths less than 100 metres. The species is widely distributed on the continental shelf from the Bay of Biscay in the south through the English Channel, North Sea and Irish Sea to the Baltic, Iceland, the Norwegian coast and Barents Sea in the north.
The certified fishery is undertaken using a twin-rigged otter trawl fishing gear. Otter trawling involves a cone shaped net being towed behind a fishing vessel in close proximity and/or in contact with the seabed. The vessels within the certified fishery operate two otter trawls fishing side by side at the same time (twin-rigged) using a 120-140mm mesh net.
