Studies on feeding, growth and production of a recruited inshore population of Pleuronectes platessa (L.) at East Anglesey, North Wales

Trawl surveys in an area of 237 km2 to the east of Anglesey (Irish Sea) indicated a population of recruited plaice (c. 480000 fish) between 2 and 15 years old. Seasonal growth began in early April and annual growth in the dominant cohorts was analysed for males and females separately. Net annual production was estimated to be 0.17 g m‐2 from a standing crop of 0.3 g m‐2; c. 50% of the production is removed by fishing. The annual consumption (2.5 g m‐2) of Abra and Pectinaria was converted with 6.8% efficiency by weight (8.0% in energy units).