Common sole

Common sole is found in our deep waters and is therefore usually fished using bottom trawling. More rarely with static nets, fine lines and rods. Its length can reach and exceed 50 centimeters, although it usually does not exceed 30 centimeters and it spawns from February to April with a peak in February. European regulations set the minimum catch size (total length) for S. solea in the Mediterranean at 20 centimeters. Due to the fishing method of this fish it is recommended to avoid it.

The sole is a benthic fish that lives in close contact with muddy or sandy substrates, at depths of up to 200 meters. It has a distinctive morphology, with a strongly flattened body and a lack of bilateral symmetry. It is a nocturnal species and feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates.

Bottom trawling is one of the most harmful ways to fish in our seas, as it drags heavy gear across the seabed, damaging all kinds of habitats, killing benthic life and leading to high catches of non-targeted species. In the southern part of Cyprus there is a restriction for trawling during the 16th of February and the 31st of May, and in the northern part bottom trawling is altogether banned.

It is recommended to ask your fisher or fishmonger where the fish was caught and with which fishing method, as well as buying this species outside of its spawning period. Prefer locally harvested seafood products by coastal small-scale fisheries and make sure your fish adheres to EU minimum size regulations