Dab
Limanda limanda
Method of production — Caught at sea
Capture method — Beam trawl
Capture area — North East Atlantic (FAO 27)
Stock area — Cornwall
Stock detail — 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h
Sustainability rating
info
Biology
Dab is a widespread demersal species on the Northeast Atlantic shelf and distributed from the Bay of Biscay to Iceland and Norway, including the Barents Sea and the Baltic. It is one of the most abundant demersal species in the North Sea, with its centre of distribution in the Southern North Sea. Dab is a right-eyed flatfish (both eyes are on the right side of the body) related to the plaice, flounder and sole. It can reach a length of about 40 cms and an age of 10-12 years. Spawns in January to August, earliest off Britanny and southern England, later in the North Sea (April to June) and in the Barents Sea (June-July). In the Baltic Sea they spawn in April-August. In the North Sea the males become sexually mature at 2-3 years when 10-20 cms long, the females at 3-5 years when 20-25 cms. Because of its sedentary nature, dab has proved to be a valuable indicator in eco-toxicological studies.
Stock information
Criterion score: 0.5
info
Stock Area
Cornwall
Stock information
Management
Criterion score: 0.5
info
Capture Information
Criterion score: 0.75
info
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally sustainable fish. For
full details, please see the full wild-capture methodology available here.
Stock or species status
| Score |
Descriptor |
| 0 |
Stock under fished and harvested within sustainable limits |
| 0.25 |
Stock fully fished and harvested within sustainable limits |
| 0.5 |
Stock level below sustainable level (BMSY) but harvested within sustainable limits |
| 0.75 |
Stock and fishing level or stock at increased risk |
| 1 |
Stock outside biological and/or safe fishing limits |
Management
| Score |
Descriptor |
| 0 |
Well-managed |
| 0.25 |
Management requires some improvement |
| 0.5 |
Partly effective management |
| 0.75 |
Poorly managed and requires considerable improvement |
| 1 |
No relevant or effective management measures in place |
Capture method and ecological effects
| Score |
Impact |
| 0 |
Very low impact |
| 0.25 |
Low impact |
| 0.5 |
Some or moderate impact |
| 0.75 |
High impact |
| 1 |
Very high impact or illegal |
Where environmental concerns from any one criteria are so great, a ‘critical fail’ may be triggered and the fishery awarded a default red
rating. For full details, please see the full wild-capture methodology available here.
The sustainability of fish can vary significantly depending on how and where it has been caught or farmed. Many single species are caught or farmed in a variety of ways and this range shows that, within a species, some sources may be more sustainable than others.
To find out specific ratings, click on the 'Show options for this fish' button under the image of the fish.
'Best choices' are rated 1 and 2 (green), 'Fish to Avoid' are rated 5 (red). Ratings 3 and 4 mean 'Think' (yellow and amber), as there are better rated alternatives.
Fish that are under review are shown with a question mark icon and no rating.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation Society to help consumers and businesses choose the most environmentally sustainable fish.
Seafood sources indicated as, 'To be assessed', are those that have not yet been assessed and assigned a rating or are undergoing a period
of review. These include sources previously rated by MCS for which the rating has lapsed, due to changes in the market or MCS priorities and
resources. Given that these sources are not fully assessed, the profile should not be used to infer the current sustainability of the
fishery or farmed species.
If you are interested in the sustainability of this seafood source, please let us know by emailing
ratings@mcsuk.org
Rating 1 (light green) is associated with the most
sustainably produced seafood.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 2 (pale green) is still a good choice, although some
aspects of its production or management could be improved
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 3 (yellow) based on available information; these
species should probably not be considered sustainable at
this time. Areas requiring improvement in the current
production may be significant. Eat only occasionally and
check www.goodfishguide.org for specific details.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 4 (orange) should not be considered sustainable, and
the fish is likely to have significant environmental issues
associated with its production. While it may be from a
deteriorating fishery, it may be one which has improved from
a 5 rating, and positive steps are being taken. However, MCS
would not usually recommend choosing this fish.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
'Red improver' ratings are assigned to seafood sources which have been assessed and rated 5 (red) due to significant environmental concerns
with one or more aspects of their management, capture or production, yet credible efforts to improve these issues have been agreed through a
Fisheries or Aquaculture Improvement Project – a FIP or an AIP - and work is underway. Such projects are normally publicly listed at
www.fisheryprogress.org. MCS wants to encourage environmental improvements in fisheries and fish farms, and so does not recommend avoiding
these sources, as we normally do for seafood rated 5 (red rated).
'Best choice' fish are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation Society to help businesses and consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Rating 5 (red) is associated with fish to be avoided on the
basis that all or most of the criteria for sustainablilty
have not been met.
Fish to Eat are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.
Ratings 3 and 4 mean don’t eat too often.
This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.
Cornwall Good Seafood Guide
