Top Sand Sole Fishing Countries

The top sand sole fishing countries are primarily located in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, with the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands leading in commercial harvests. The sand sole (Pegusa lascaris) is a flatfish species found on sandy or muddy seabeds in shallow coastal waters, prized for its delicate, mild-flavored flesh. While not as commercially significant as the common sole (Solea solea), sand sole is targeted by bottom trawl and gillnet fisheries, often as part of mixed demersal catches. The fishing industry for sand sole is most developed in European waters, particularly in the North Sea and the English Channel, where these nations have established quotas and management measures to ensure the sustainability of flatfish stocks.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.