One of the Fisheries Science Partnership (FSP) survey series of Western
Channel sole and plaice. The survey’s main aim is to show trends in the
distribution, abundance and age composition of sole (Solea solea) and
plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), and to provide some information on bycatch
species. At each station sampled, shot and haul, positional, depth and times
information were recorded, and for all species of fish and shellfish length
distribution data were taken. Otoliths were collected from sole and plaice to
provide individual age at length information.
Due to the 2020 COVID pandemic, the commencement of the survey was delayed
until November as it could not take place at the time it usually occurs
(August/September), and the collection of length distribution data had to be
restricted to sole and plaice only.