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Species Directory

American Plaice

Overview Seafood Management Science Resources
American plaice is a flatfish typically found in deep waters off the Eastern Coast of the U.S. and Canada. Learn about the status and management of these Northeast groundfish.

American Plaice

Hippoglossoides platessoides

American plaice illustration. Credit: Jack Hornady.
Also Known As
American dab, Canadian plaice, Dab

Quick Facts

Lifespan
More than 20 years
Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Fish Watch. U.S. Seafood Facts Logo
Plaice_nefsc.jpg

About the Species

Plaice_nefsc.jpg

American plaice is a species of flounder that is found in relatively deep water from southern Labrador to Rhode Island. It is a popular seafood managed with other groundfish as part of the Northeast multispecies groundfish complex. 

Population Status Icon

Population

The stock is not overfished.

Fishing Status Icon

Fishing Rate

Not subject to overfishing.

Habitat Impacts Icon

Habitat Impact

Area closures and gear restrictions protect habitats that are affected by some kinds of trawl gear.

Bycatch Icon

Bycatch

Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.

Population Status

American plaice is not overfished, not subject to overfishing, and has rebuilt to the target population level (2022 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART. 

Appearance

American plaice is a right-eyed species of flounder. Plaice have a large mouth, rounded tail, and nearly straight lateral line running lengthwise along their body. The upper side (eyed side) of adult plaice is typically reddish-brown in color, while the underside is white.

Biology

American plaice can live for more than 20 years. Plaice spawn and fertilize their eggs near the ocean bottom. Fertilized eggs float and ultimately hatch near the ocean’s surface. When plaice first hatch, their eyes are symmetrical, with an eye on each side of their head. As the fish grows, it flattens out and the left eye moves over to the right side of its head. After this metamorphosis, the juvenile settles to the ocean bottom. Larval plaice mostly eat plankton and adults primarily feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates, such as brittle stars, sand dollars, polychaete worms, shrimps, and bivalve mollusks.

Where They Live

Range

American plaice are distributed along the continental shelves from southern Labrador to Rhode Island in relatively deep water.

In the Northwest Atlantic, plaice are found along the Atlantic Coast of North America throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.

Habitat

American plaice are relatively sedentary. They are distributed throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank, and they can also be found in bays and estuaries in Maine and Massachusetts.

American plaice live on the ocean bottom in areas covered by sand, mud, or fine gravel. They are found in relatively deep waters between 130 and 980 feet deep. Juvenile American plaice occupy shallower areas than adults, and are typically found in waters between 130 and 590 feet deep.

Fishery Management

NOAA Fisheries and the New England Fishery Management Council manage the American plaice fishery.

American plaice, along with other groundfish in New England waters, is managed under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, which includes:

  • Permitting requirements for commercial vessels.
  • Separate management measures for recreational vessels.
  • Time/Area closures to protect spawning fish and habitat.
  • Minimum fish sizes to prevent harvest of juvenile fish.
  • Annual catch limits, based on best available science.
  • An optional sector (catch share) program can be used for American plaice and other groundfish species. The sector program allows fishermen to form harvesting cooperatives and work together to decide when, where, and how they harvest fish.

A rebuilding plan was put in place in 2004 and the stock rebuilt in 2019.

Harvest

Commercial Fishery for American Plaice

In 2022, commercial landings of American plaice totaled 1.5 million pounds, and were valued at $2.5 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database. 

Gear Types, Habitat Impacts, and Bycatch  

American plaice are commonly harvested using trawl nets and, to a lesser extent, gillnets.

Areas closures and gear restrictions reduce habitat impacts from trawl nets.  Fishermen follow management measures designed to reduce interactions with marine mammals, including gear modifications, seasonal closures, and use of marine mammal deterrents.

Recreational Fishery for American Plaice

American plaice are not commonly encountered by the recreational fishery. Regulations include a minimum fish size.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Pleuronectiformes
Family Pleuronectidae
Genus Hippoglossoides
Species platessoides

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 03/21/2025


Featured News

A blue and white vessel with "R/V Gloria Michelle" on each side traverses past a breakwater. The NOAA research vessel Gloria Michelle conducts groundfish surveys in New England, an important mission to support science-based fisheries management. Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries
Feature Story

As Fishing Season Opens, NOAA Implements Emergency Action to Ensure Uninterrupted Northeast Fisheries

New England/Mid-Atlantic
 A flat, diamond-shaped fish lying on a sandy ocean bottom. Both eyes are on one side of the head, looking up at the camera. Caption: Yellowtail flounder on a sandy bottom photographed by a towed sampling array called HabCam. Photo Courtesy Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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Ocean Models Help Link Environmental Conditions to a Fishery Stock Assessment

New England/Mid-Atlantic
A very flat fish whose coloring blends into the sandy ocean bottom.
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Scientific Trawl Gear Performance Better Understood Thanks to Collaborative Research

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Trawl nets, side by side on stern of boat.
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2019 Net Spread Study Targets Flatfish, Reveals Subtle Differences

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Related Species

Windowpane flounder illustration. Credit: Jack Hornady.

Windowpane Flounder

Winter flounder illustration. Credit: Jack Hornady

Winter Flounder

Witch flounder illustration. Credit: Jack Hornady.

Witch Flounder

Right-facing, right-eyed yellowtail flounder fish illustration. This flatfish has a reddish brown body with rusty red spots and yellow fins. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Jack Hornady

Yellowtail Flounder

Seafood Facts

Fishwatch Logo

U.S. wild-caught American plaice is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.

Environmental Impact Icon

Availability

Year-round.

Feeds Icon

Source

Wild-caught from Maine to Rhode Island.

Farming Methods Icon

Taste

Subtle, sweet flavor.

Human Health Icon

Texture

Lean and flaky.

Human Health Icon

Color

Raw American plaice ranges in color from white to pinkish to tan. Cooked flounder is pure white.

Human Health Icon

Health Benefits

American plaice is a good low-fat source of B vitamins and miacin.

Nutrition Facts

Servings: 1; Serving Weight: 100 g (raw); Calories: 91; Protein: 18.84 g; Total Fat: 1.19 g; Total Saturated Fatty Acids: 0.283 g ; Carbohydrate: 0 g; Total Sugars: 0 g; Total Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Cholesterol: 48 mg; Selenium: 32.7 mcg; Sodium: 81 mg

More Information

  • Sustainable Seafood
  • Sign Up for "Taste of the Tides Newsletter

Flounder Recipes

Looking for some ways to add flounder into your rotation? If you need some cooking inspiration, browse these recipes for baked flounder with herbs, stuffed flounder, and more!

Read More
A light green and white ceramic plate sitting on a blue and white cotton napkin. On the plate is a cooked filet of flounder with a dark herb sauce on top. The plate is garnished with a lemon wedge and green leafy herbs.

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 03/21/2025


Seafood News

Fish sitting on ice in a metal bowl. Fresh-caught taʻape on ice. Credit: Conservation International Hawaiʻi.
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National
Two Hawaiian monk seals swim near an aquaculture net pen full of fish. NOAA Fisheries, in collaboration with Blue Ocean Mariculture, is conducting a multi-year pilot study to evaluate observational methods and tools for studying Hawaiian monk seal behavior. Courtesy of Blue Ocean Mariculture
Feature Story

AI Meets Aquaculture to Study Hawaiian Monk Seal Interactions With Net Pens

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A woman poses holding a fish while aboard a fishing vessel with fisherman and their catch separated into baskets in the background. Tonya Wick aboard a fishing vessel at sea in 1998. Photo courtesy of Tonya Wick
Feature Story

On Deck With Observer 0001—Looking Back 30 Years

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Management Overview

American plaice is managed under the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan along with 12 other species of groundfish. Collectively, these 13 species are referred to as the Northeast multispecies complex. 

Northeast multispecies complex and its management


More Information

  • Northeast Multispecies Complex Group Species Page
  • Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
  • Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Bulletins
  • Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Permits
  • Essential Fish Habitat Source Document Series
  • Resources for Fishing in the Greater Atlantic Region

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 03/21/2025

Science Overview

Every year, our Northeast Fisheries Science Center compiles valuable information from more than 600,000 species of fish, shark, and invertebrates collected by fishermen, scientists, and observers. This information gives scientists a detailed picture of the overall condition and health of northeast fisheries to ensure sustainable management.

For detailed information about stock status, management, assessments, and resource trends, you can search for American plaice, and any other species of interest, using NOAA’s StockSMART web tool.

Research & Data

Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Profile Development and Reports

Status of Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Profiles for Northeast fishery stock assessments.
New England/Mid-Atlantic

Species Collected: Age and Growth Studies in the Northeast

This table lists the species for which we currently collect age samples, along with the structures and preparation methods for each one. Various additional species have been collected in the past, and structures collected historically may be different.
New England/Mid-Atlantic
View More

More Information

  • Age and Growth Studies in the Northeast
  • Fisheries Monitoring Operations in the Northeast
  • Monitoring the Ecosystem in the Northeast
  • Cooperative Research in the Northeast

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 03/21/2025

Research

Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Profile Development and Reports

Status of Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Profiles for Northeast fishery stock assessments.

New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Research

Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 03/21/2025

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