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Monkfish (anglerfish)

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General

Anglerfish/monkfish

Strange creatures lurk in the deep sea. Anglerfish (Lophiidae) form a separate family of fish in the order Lophiiformes. These fish occur in the Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. They live on the ocean floor at depths of up to 1,000 metres. Anglerfish are anglerfish in the literal sense: they have a large head with a large mouth and long, sharp teeth pointing backwards.

The first ray of the dorsal fin has evolved into a kind of fishing rod with a small bulb at the end that acts as a lure for prey.

Only the larger species, reaching up to 1.2 metres, are of commercial importance.

Monkfish (anglerfish)

The angler is a deep-sea fish that lives at depths up to 1000 m and get up to 2 m long. The species has very well-developed camouflage abilities; they can resemble the stones, sand or macroalgae of the habitat in which they are hiding. Anglers have a lure attached to their head which they use to lure small fish into their opened mouth, hence the name angler. This species can be found ranging from the Mediterranean Sea to Iceland. Most anglers are caught in shallower coastal waters in France, Spain and England.

 

Monkfish (anglerfish)

Lophius piscatorus
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, northeast (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Danish seine, Bottom trawls, Anchored/demersal gillnets, Pelagic longlines

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Minder tonen Toon beoordeling
Explanation assessment

Monkfish has been MSC(EN) MSC:
Marine Stewardship Council, an independent, international non-profit organization that has developed an eco-label that guarantees well-managed, sustainable fisheries. Fish products that meet the criteria of the eco-label can be identified by the blue MSC logo.-certified since 2018. In the past, monkfish were only caught using bottomBottom trawls:
A fishing technique in which cone-shaped nets terminating in a codend are dragged through the water column or along the bottom. trawls, but the fishery has expanded to include gillnetsGillnets:
A fishing technique whereby passing fish get caught in the meshes with their gills. The net stands vertically on the bottom or hangs on buoys in the water column. The by-catch of species such as porpoises and dolphins is a problem related to gillnets. and other fishing gear. MSC-certified monkfish are caught with gillnetsGillnets:
A fishing technique whereby passing fish get caught in the meshes with their gills. The net stands vertically on the bottom or hangs on buoys in the water column. The by-catch of species such as porpoises and dolphins is a problem related to gillnets., pelagic longlinesPelagic Longlines:
A fishing method whereby a long main line (40-100 km long) with transverse lines with hooks with bait is expanded. The line floats on buoys in the water column.  , DanishDanish seines:
A fishing technique whereby one of the lines of the seine net/pit net is anchored. The ship expands the net with a moving motion and turns off when picking up the net. seines and bottomBottom trawls:
A fishing technique in which cone-shaped nets terminating in a codend are dragged through the water column or along the bottom. trawls.

Monkfish (anglerfish)

Lophius piscatorus
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, northeast (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Bottom trawls, Anchored/demersal gillnets

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
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  • Dec
Minder tonen Toon beoordeling
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

It is unknown how the monkfish stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period.   is doing. While the size of the stock is uncertain, fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing. remains high. This species is at risk of being overfishedOverfished:
A stock is overfished when the stock size has decreased so far that it can no longer produce a maximum sustainable yield. The size of the fish populations is insufficient to reproduce in the long term.   in the future. Particularly due to the slow growth of this species, which means that the fish do not reach sexual maturity until a later age.

Demersal fisheries using anchoredanchored/demersal gillnets:
A fishing technique whereby passing fish become tangled up in a net with their gills (also known as a gillnet), which is vertically standing on the bottom. gillnets and bottomBottom trawls:
A fishing technique in which cone-shaped nets terminating in a codend are dragged through the water column or along the bottom. trawls are likely to cause significant negative ecosystem impacts by interacting with benthic habitats and species. BycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards).   of other species, including endangered and protectedProtected species:
Many marine species are protected from deliberate or intentional disturbance, capture, injury and killing, and in some cases possession or sale. Species are often protected if they play an important role in the ecosystem or are sensitive to fishing. These marine species are protected regardless of whether they are inside or outside marine protected areas. species, is likely and often documented.

Monkfish are managed through catch limitsCatch limits:
The maximum amount of fish of a species caught per country, per year.  , but this has not been enough over the years to reduce fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing.. ManagementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured. of this species is partially effective.

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.

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