Plaice is a diamond-shaped flatfish that lives on sandy seabeds all around the UK. Plaice can be identified by their distinctive orangey spots.

Behaviour

Younger fish are found close to shore and in estuaries which are an important nursery habitat as they grow. Plaice feed on molluscs and worms – often nipping the siphons or tail ends off buried prey. Their mottled colouration provides excellent camouflage against sandy seabeds and are often only spotted once they move. They have characteristic orange spots all over the top side of their body – a helpful feature when trying to differentiate between flatfish species.

Size

Length: normally up to 50cm

Status

Least concern

Distribution

Found all around our coasts

When to see

January to December

Facts

Flatfish start life looking like a normal fish. As they grow, they begin to change – with one eye migrating over to the other side of the head. As adults, flatfish are essentially fish on their side. Plaice are right-eyed, meaning both eyes are on what was originally the fish’s right side.