HOME / FISH & RECIPES / RAINBOW TROUT

Lophius piscatorius

Biology

Monkfish are large, deep-water predators commonly found in the northeast Atlantic and parts of the Irish Sea, the English Channel, and the North Sea. They are known for their flattened body and broad head, with a mottled dark brown to black coloration on top and a pale underside. Monkfish have a distinctive feature, a single spiny ray on their dorsal fin that they use as a lure to attract prey.

These fish inhabit sandy or muddy bottoms at depths between 20 and 550 meters, but they can migrate to spawn in waters as deep as 2000 meters. Spawning typically occurs during the first six months of the year, with females releasing a huge ribbon of jelly containing over a million eggs.

Monkfish are slow to mature, with females reaching maturity around the age of eight years and males around five years. This long maturation period makes them particularly vulnerable to overfishing. The main threat to monkfish populations in the UK is overfishing, as they are often caught as by-catch in trawl nets.

In the UK, monkfish are considered a priority species due to their international threat status and the need for effective fisheries management. Efforts to manage the monkfish population include implementing sustainable fishing practices and conducting research into factors affecting recruitment levels and population response to climate change.

Monkfish are also economically significant, with their landings in Scotland exceeding those of cod and whiting during the mid-1990s, although landings have since declined. Despite this, monkfish continue to command high prices at the quayside.

The biology and fishery of monkfish in UK waters highlight the need for careful management to ensure the sustainability of this species.