Flatfish are shallow-water species, taken mainly by target inshore trawl and Danish seine fleets around the South Island.

Flatfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) provides for the landing of eight species of flatfish. These are the yellow-belly flounder, Rhombosolea leporine (YBF); sand flounder, Rhombosolea plebeian (SFL); black flounder, Rhombosolea retiaria (BFL); greenback flounder, Rhombosolea tapirina (GFL); lemon sole, Pelotretis flavilatus (LSO); New Zealand sole, Peltorhamphus novaezeelandiae (ESO); brill, Colistium guntheri (BRI); and turbot, Colistium nudipinnis (TUR). For management purposes, landings of these species are combined (FLA).

The proportion that each species contributes to the catch is expected to vary annually.  Because the adult populations of most species generally consist of only one or two year classes at any time, the size of the populations depends heavily on the strength of the recruiting year class and is therefore thought to be highly variable. Flatfish catch limits have generally been set at high levels so as to provide fishers with the flexibility to take advantage of the perceived variability associated with annual flatfish abundance.

There are important recreational fisheries, mainly for the four flounder species, in most harbours, estuaries, coastal lakes, and coastal inlets throughout New Zealand.