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seafood encyclopedia

turbot

Overview

  • Scientific Name: Psetta maxima
  • US Market Name(s): Turbot
  • Canada Market Name(s): Not listed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Culinary Profile

Turbot flesh offers a medium fat content, is bright white and firm - offering a flaky texture. Turbot is prized for its delicious, sweet flavour.

Description

Commercially, this bottom-dwelling fish is a highly valuable species – especially in Europe where the fish is more common and priced lower than in the US. Most commercially available Turbot is farmed - however, some wild-caught fish is sparsely available. Turbot was first farmed in Scotland in the 1970s; since then, it has become a major aquaculture resource across Europe - primarily in Spain. Similar to other members of the Flatfish Family - Turbot have both eyes on the same side of their head.

Habitat

Turbot are a member of Flatfish Family and are native to the Eastern North Atlantic Ocean - Black Sea - Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea.

Fishing Season

Sustainability Status

Wild Turbot populations have been overfished for years and are currently considered depleted. Turbot aquaculture in Europe is well recognized for its sustainability and environmentalism.

Fishy Fact: Due to its superb taste - ancient Romans once referred to Turbot as the “Pheasant of the Seas”.

Products

Available as Value Added, Commodity, Custom Packing.