Lophius Piscatorius (Anglerfish)
Colour, Shape and Size
The monkfish, known variously as the goosefish, anglerfish, or "allmouth," is a large, ugly, benthic (bottom-dwelling) fish found in the coastal Atlantic area. Its size ranges up to about three feet,and its body is composed mainly of a huge, gaping mouth attached to a muscular tail.The monkfish is an
anglerfish; its spine ends in a flexible, extensible cord which it dangles for use as a fishing lure.
External Anatomy
100.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 4108); max. reported age: 11 years
Natural History
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.04-0.08; tm=4; tmax=11) bathydemersal; marine ; depth range 150 - 400 m. deep-water; 15°S - 28°S. Found on the deeper continental shelf and upper slope. Feeds mainly on bottom-living fishes often on pilchard, round herring and horse mackerel.
Capture
Monkfish are mainly landed by monkfish right holders but are also caught as a bycatch of the hake fishery. The by-catch of monkfish to the hake fishery is about 30% of the toal annual monkfish catch.
Specific Catch Restrictions
Monkfish was at first regulated as a quota fishery during the 2001 fishing season. The TAC was set at about 13 000 tonnes.
