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Species Guide

Turbot

Rodaballo
  • Spanish Name: Rodaballo
  • English Name: Turbot
  • Scientific Name: Scophthalmus maximus
  • Type of specie: Fish
  • Order: Pleuronectiformes
  • Family: Scophthalmidae

Habitat

  • Natural: Sandy or muddy seabeds in coastal waters, generally at depths between 10 and 70 meters.
  • Farming: Tanks with controlled salinity, temperature, and water circulation systems.

General Description

  • Body shape: Flat and asymmetrical, with eyes on the left side of the body.
  • Distinctive features:

    Roundish shape with a sandy or speckled color that allows it to blend with the seabed.

Size and Weight

  • Average length: Usually between 40 and 50 cm; in the wild, it can reach up to 1 meter.
  • Average weight: Commonly between 1 and 3 kg; some specimens can weigh up to 25 kg. in the wild.

Life Cycle

Requires several years to reach market size, generally between 2 to 3 years.

Adaptations

Highly resilient to controlled farming environments but sensitive to water quality.

Juveniles farming systems

Raised in land-based recirculation systems (RAS) and intensive hatcheries.

Grow-out farming systems

Conducted in land-based tanks with temperature and salinity control.

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Discover our feeding systems
  • Geographical distribution
Coastal waters of the Northeastern Atlantic, from Norway and Iceland to Morocco, including the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea.
  • Main producing countries
Spain, France, Portugal, China, the Netherlands, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Chile, and Norway.
  • Commercial value

Highly appreciated for its white, firm, and delicate flesh, making it a premium product in aquaculture.

  • Additional uses
  • Roe: Occasionally used in gourmet dishes.
  • By-products: Sometimes processed into fish meal and oil.
  • Common preparation methods
Ideal for grilling, baking, steaming, or serving as fillets in fresh or frozen form.