Lemon sole explained

The lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) is a flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. It is native to shallow seas around Northern Europe, where it lives on stony bottoms down to depths of about 1400m (4,600feet). It grows up to 65cm (26inches) in length and reaches about 19kg (42lb) in weight.[1]

It is a popular food fish.

Identification

The lemon sole is a right-eyed flatfish with a small head and mouth and smooth, slimy skin. The upper surface is reddish brown in colour, mottled with pink and orange and flecks of yellow and green, and a prominent orange patch is typically found behind the pectoral fin, around which the lateral line also curves. The underside of the fish is white. Adults can reach lengths of up to 65cm (26inches), but most measure around 20-.

Origin of the name

The fish is not a true sole, nor does it have the taste of lemon. The English name probably comes from the French name: limande or sole limande. The French term limande may come from the French word lime, meaning "file" (a tool used to smooth metal, wood, etc.), possibly referring to the texture of the fish's skin. Some other authors suggest that "limande" may also come from the French word limon (which means "silt").[2]

Fishing

In 2007 the European Union fishing quota, or Total Allowable Catch (TAC), for lemon sole (and witch) was 6,175 tonnes, of which 3,716 tonnes were caught, mostly by UK fishermen. The quota for both 2008 and 2009 was 6,793 tonnes.[3] [4]

The Marine Conservation Society rates lemon sole at 3 or 4 on its sustainability scale (where 1 is best and 5 is worst) depending on how and where it is caught.[5] [6]

See also

Several other species of flatfish are known as lemon soles:

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Microstomus kitt . 2009-04-28 . Picton, B.E. . Morrow, C.C. . 2005 . Encyclopaedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland . Habitas Online . https://web.archive.org/web/20071221081733/http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZG8950 . 2007-12-21 .
  2. http://atilf.atilf.fr/dendien/scripts/tlfiv4/showps.exe?p=combi.htm;java=no; "Limande" in Trésor informatique de la langue française
  3. Web site: 1 Fisheries: catch quotas and effort limitation 2009 . 2009-04-27 . 21 January 2009 . Documents considered by the Committee on 21 January 2009 - European Scrutiny Committee . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182822/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmeuleg/19-iv/1903.htm . 3 March 2016 . dead .
  4. Book: Barratt & Irwin . United Kingdom Sea Fishing Statistics 2007 . . 2008 . London . 49 . 978-0-85521-181-3 . 2009-04-27 . 2009-09-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090909204810/http://www.mfa.gov.uk/statistics/documents/UKSeaFishStats_2007.pdf . dead .
  5. Web site: Lemon Sole . 2009-04-27 . Fishonline . .
  6. Web site: Fish To Eat: Lemon Sole . 2009-04-27 . Fishonline . .