Halibut is a flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae.  They are demersal fish, that live on or near sand, gravel or clay bottoms at depths of between 50 and 2,000 metres (160 and 6,600 ft).  Halibut is local to the North Atlantic and is the largest flatfish in the Atlantic and one of the largest species of flatfish in the world, reaching lengths of up to 4.7 metres (15 ft) and weights of 320 kilograms (710 lb).

The spawning takes place from December to April around Iceland and the halibut can produce 2 - 3,5 million eggs with each spawning.  Its lifespan can reach 50 years.

Very mild and sweet tasting, halibut is popular as steaks and fillets. This sweet-tasting, lean fish has fine-grained, dense meat and is flaky and tender, though still firm.