Monkfish, sometimes called anglerfish, is a deep-sea species highly valued in commercial fisheries for its firm, mild-flavored tail meat. It is a major market commodity in both the United States and Europe. Because of its commercial value and deep-water habitat, its conservation status is a frequent source of confusion for consumers seeking to make responsible seafood choices. The question of whether monkfish is endangered depends entirely on where the fish was caught.
Regional Differences in Conservation Status
The term “monkfish” refers to several species managed across different regions, and their conservation statuses vary significantly. In the Western Atlantic, the species is Lophius americanus, managed by NOAA Fisheries in the United States. The U.S. stock is generally considered sustainably managed, though official stock assessments for the two main U.S. stocks currently do not provide a definitive overfished or overfishing status.
In the Northeast Atlantic, the commercial fishery targets two species: the white-bellied monkfish (Lophius piscatorius) and the black-bellied monkfish (Lophius budegassa). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has assessed L. piscatorius as Least Concern. In contrast, L. budegassa is listed as Data Deficient, meaning there is insufficient information to assess its risk of extinction. These European stocks are subject to management by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the European Union.
The overall assessment is that no monkfish species is classified as “Endangered” globally or regionally. However, the lack of data for some species and historical depletion mean that localized stocks have faced severe pressure. The varying statuses highlight that the sustainability of monkfish is a regional rather than a species-wide issue.
Biological Vulnerabilities and Fishing Pressure
Monkfish possess several life history traits that make their populations particularly sensitive to commercial fishing pressure. They are long-lived, with American monkfish (L. americanus) known to reach ages of up to 30 years. This longevity is paired with a relatively slow growth rate and late sexual maturity.
Female American monkfish typically reach sexual maturity around four years of age, and males around three years. This long interval before reproduction means that if young fish are removed by fishing, the population takes many years to recover. Females produce a large number of eggs, ranging from 300,000 to 2.8 million ova in a single spawning event, released in a unique, buoyant, gelatinous veil.
The primary commercial fishing methods, bottom trawling and gillnetting, further compound these biological vulnerabilities. Monkfish are ambush predators that live on the seafloor, making them easily susceptible to bottom-trawls, which drag heavy nets across the seabed. This method is non-selective, catching monkfish alongside other groundfish and often resulting in high bycatch rates of non-target species. Bottom trawling also physically disturbs the benthic habitat monkfish rely on.
Regulatory Measures and Consumer Guidance
Government agencies and international bodies have implemented regulatory measures to manage monkfish populations and mitigate the effects of commercial fishing.
Management in the U.S.
In the U.S. Atlantic fishery, management employs a Days-At-Sea (DAS) system, which limits the number of days fishing vessels can operate, alongside trip limits on the amount of monkfish a vessel can land per trip. The U.S. also uses area closures and gear restrictions to minimize habitat damage and reduce the bycatch of other species caught simultaneously.
Management in Europe
In European waters, management focuses on Total Allowable Catches (TACs), which set limits on the total amount of fish that can be harvested from a stock annually. These quotas are determined based on scientific advice from organizations like ICES. The effectiveness of these measures is sometimes complicated by a lack of complete scientific data for all stocks, as seen with the Data Deficient status of the black-bellied monkfish.
Consumer Guidance
For consumers, making sustainable choices requires consulting credible seafood guides that synthesize this complex information. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program provides a regionalized recommendation for monkfish. U.S. wild-caught monkfish is considered a Good Alternative (yellow rating) when caught by bottom trawls. This recommendation acknowledges that while the stock is healthy, the fishing method causes concerns due to its impact on other species and the seafloor habitat. Consumers should prioritize monkfish sourced from fisheries that use less destructive gear, such as sink gillnets or traps.