Short answers, pulled from the story.
The word plaice derives from the ancient Greek term platys, meaning broad, and passed through late Latin as platessa before entering 14th-century Anglo-French as plais. This etymological journey describes the distinctive shape of these bottom-dwelling fish and has remained a continuous human fascination for over two millennia.
European plaice have a maximum recorded age of 50 years, but modern fishing pressure has reduced their survival to rarely beyond six years of age. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea lists the species as being outside safe biological limits due to this rapid aging crisis.
American plaice spawn in the Gulf of Maine with peak activity in April and May, and they live for a maximum of 30 years. These fish are generally smaller than their European cousins and have become the primary target of overfishing in the Northwest Atlantic.
In the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, the total allowable catch for 2005 was reached before the end of May. This rapid depletion occurs when these fish become incidental bycatch in trawls targeting other bottom fish.
In Denmark, filleted and battered plaice is served hot or cold as an open sandwich topping with remoulade sauce and lemon slices. It is also prepared as a main dish paired with french fries or as breaded frozen plaice ready to be baked or fried at home.