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Anglerfish or monkfish (or goosefish)
Lophius piscatorius, Lophius budegassa
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BIOLOGY
Anglerfish are so called because they possess a fishing lure at the tip of a specially modified dorsal ray, with which they can entice prey. They are a long-lived species.Maximum reported age is 24 years.Females mature at 9-11 years at about 70 - 90 cm, males at around 6 years at 50 cms. Females can attain a length of 2 m and a weight of 40 kgs. Males rarely grow beyond 1 m. There is general consensus amongst scientists that there is one stock, and that this spawns in spring and early summer in deep water off the edge of the continental shelf to the west of Scotland, in waters down to 1,000 metres. Eggs are released in a buoyant, gelatinous ribbon or 'egg veil' that may measure more than 10 m in length. Anglerfish are also found in coastal waters. 2 species occur in most areas, L.picatorius (white) and L.budegassa (black-bellied), although catches are almost exclusively of the former. No distinction is made between the two species for assessment purposes.
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ADVICE
Monk or anglerfish are a long-lived species and have low resilience to fishing. They are found in both shallow and deep waters on both sides of the Atlantic. 2 species are discussed here - Lophius piscatorius from the North Eastern Atlantic and L. Americanus from the North Western Atlantic. In the NE Atlantic there are few adequate measures in place for their sustainable management. For example, no size restrictions on landings (due to large head size and only tail being of commercial value), no distinction made between species and no measures to protect spawning stock, however recent restrictions on fishing effort and TACs for other deepwater species has also resulted in reduced fishing on monkfish in deeper waters from the northern stock. The majority of catches, especially trawled catches, comprise immature or young fish (females mature at 70cm, males at 50cm). The southwest stock (Area V11b-k, V111a,b) is the only stock in the North East Alantic assessed by ICES as having full reproductive capacity, i.e. the stock is in a healthy state and above the minimum level recommended by ICES scientists. Avoid eating fish from the depleted southern stock. To help increase the sustainability of fish eaten from healthy stocks, ensure fish is above or equal to the size at which it matures - at least 70cms - and avoid eating during its breeding season - spring and early summer. The use of gillnets with larger meshes (220 mm) is a more selective method of fishing for this species than trawling. In New England, USA a Fishery Management Plan was introduced in 1999 to rebuild monkfish (L. Americanus) populations in 10 years. Although rebuilding targets have not yet been met, monkfish in the two management areas are no longer considered overfished, indicating that the recovery plan is working. The stock is closely monitored and measures are in place to protect it, including enforcement of mimimum landing sizes and spawning season closures.
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