Common dab
Small flatfish of the North Sea sandy bottoms
The common dab is a small edible flatfish native to shallow seas in Northern Europe. It lives on sandy seabeds and has become a more important commercial catch as stocks of cod and haddock decline.
- Both eyes are on the right side of the body
- Lives on sandy bottoms up to 100 metres deep
- Distinguished from flounder by its translucent body
- Increasingly targeted as cod stocks decline
What it is
The common dab is a flatfish with both eyes on the right side of its body. Its upper surface is pale brown with dark speckles but lacks the orange spots seen on plaice. The body is translucent, which helps distinguish it from flounder. A curved lateral line sits above the pectoral fin, and the dorsal and anal fins round the body edge gently. Most individuals measure between 25 and 40 centimetres.
Where it lives
This species lives in coastal waters of the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Its distribution stretches from the Bay of Biscay north to Iceland and east to the White Sea. It is particularly common in the North Sea and the western Baltic Sea. The fish dwells on sandy seabeds at depths reaching approximately 100 metres.
How it lives
As a bottom dweller, the common dab feeds on organisms living in the sediment. Its diet includes marine worms, molluscs, sand eels, amphipods, crustaceans, echinoderms and smaller fishes. It remains close to the sandy substrate where it can blend in with its surroundings.
Fish and people
Historically, this fish was often ignored by commercial fleets and kept only as by-catch. As numbers of cod and haddock have fallen, dab has become a more targeted species, especially in the North Sea. Chefs have promoted it as an alternative to reduce pressure on heavily exploited stocks. It is valued as an edible seafood.
Questions people ask about Common dab
How big does a common dab grow?
It can reach a maximum length of 40 centimetres and weigh up to one kilogram. However, most specimens caught are smaller, typically growing no longer than 20 centimetres.
Where can you find common dab?
They are native to shallow seas around Northern Europe. Their range includes the North Sea, western Baltic Sea, Bay of Biscay, Iceland and the White Sea.
What does the common dab eat?
It feeds on zoobenthos organisms found on the sea floor. This includes marine worms, molluscs, sand eels, amphipods, crustaceans, echinoderms and smaller fishes.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Common dab", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
Like Common dab
All flatfish
🇨🇦 Canada and 4 moreAtlantic halibut
The world's largest flatfish, found in the North Atlantic.Flatfish · Coasts and shelves
🇨🇦 Canada and 1 moreWinter flounder
Right-eyed flatfish of the western North Atlantic coast.Flatfish · Coasts and shelves
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreSummer flounder
A predatory flatfish of the US Atlantic coast.Flatfish · Coasts and shelves
EuropeEuropean flounder
A right-eyed flatfish found in European coastal waters and rivers.Flatfish · Rivers and lakes