European flounder the males when they measure and the females when they measure . The European flounder sometimes hybridises with European plaice ("Pleuronectes platessa") and, particularly in the western Baltic Sea, the hybrid is common. The European flounder is used for human consumption but is not so highly esteemed as the European plaice or common sole ("Solea solea"). The most important fisheries are in the Baltic Sea and the waters around the Netherlands and Denmark. In 2010, the total world catch was about nineteen thousand tonnes, mostly caught by bottom trawling. The fish is marketed fresh and frozen and can be fried,
RV Platessa RV Platessa RV "Platessa" (LT205) was a fisheries research vessel that was operated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (United Kingdom) - Directorate of Fisheries, now known as the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) between 1946 and 1967. RV "Platessa" was based at the port of Lowestoft and was originally ordered by the Admiralty as one of 81 Motor Fishing Vessels (MFVs) in the ‘1501-Class’ during World War II. Motor fishing vessels were small wooden craft, built in large numbers during the war for use as Ship's tenders. Constructed as MFV 1576 by East Anglian