Atlantic Halibut

Identification

The Atlantic halibut is the world's largest flatfish, capable of exceeding 2.5 meters and 300 kg. The body is more elongated than other flatfish, with eyes on the right side. The upper side is dark brown to olive green, the underside white. The tail fin is slightly concave. The mouth is large with strong teeth: the halibut is an active predator, not a typical bottom-feeding flatfish.

Behavior & ecology

Unlike most flatfish, the halibut is an active predator that hunts cod, haddock, herring, and other fish through the water column. Lives at depths of 50 to 2,000 meters. Grows slowly and lives long (up to 50 years), making it vulnerable to overfishing.

In the Netherlands

The halibut is extremely rare in Dutch waters. The North Sea lies at the southern edge of its range, which extends from Iceland and Norway into Arctic waters. The species has declined severely due to overfishing.