Western Channel sole and plaice beam trawl survey 2025

The main aim of the Western Channel sole and plaice survey 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 in the Western English Channel (ICES Division 7e). 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. Up until 2020 the survey time-series (2003 onwards) was funded as part the Fisheries Science Partnership (FSP) programme.