Sole, Lemon | Good Fish Guide | The consumer guide to sustainable seafood

Common name - Sole, Lemon

Scientific name - Microstomus kitt

Average rating

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Consumer Information

Lemon sole is a widely distributed flatfish in northern European waters and belongs to the same family as halibut and plaice. Fisheries for this species are largely unregulated and there is little information available about its status, although it appears to be a fairly common fish. In Cornish waters local byelaws prohibit the landing of fish below 25 cm, the size at which it is mature, thereby providing some chance of them spawning. The fish is best dusted in flour, fried in butter and eaten on the bone. Lemon sole is also sold filleted and chilled or frozen in breadcrumbs. It doesn’t deserve to be made into goujons! And it doesn’t taste of lemon. Avoid eating Lemon sole below 25cm and during it’s breeding season, April to August.

Summary

The fishery for lemon sole is largely unregulated. Stocks in Icelandic waters are subject to quota restrictions, with fisheries in Norwegian and North Sea waters subject to a mixed species quota. Choose fish caught using seine nets as there is less damage caused to the seabed, or those landed in Cornwall where a minimum landing size (25cm), above the size at which it matures, is enforced. Avoid eating immature fish (below 25cm) and during its breeding period, April-August.

Alternatives

(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)

Dab
Flounder
Halibut, Atlantic
Halibut, Pacific
Sole, Dover sole, Common sole
Sole, Lemon
Turbot

Visit Fishonline, the website for the seafood industry, for more detailed information about this species.