Monkfish: to eat or not to eat?
Post categories: Autumnwatch, Autumnwatch Unsprung
|10:26 UK time, Wednesday, 29 December 2010
In the last Autumnwatch Unsprung of the 2010 series, Kate advised people to avoid eating monkfish. We have subsequently heard that the monkfish situation is more complex than this and we wanted to put the record straight with what's going on.
We've set out to find the best advice on whether to eat monkfish, and if so from which monkfish population. We've contacted the relevant fisheries scientists and statutory bodies as well as conservation groups. There has also been a lively debate on our messageboard, where British fishing community have also been having their say.
Also known as the anglerfish, monkfish have recently become very popular as a meaty fish. They are large bottom-feeding fish which are slow growing and slow to reproduce - only starting to breed when about 10 years old. Beam trawling for bottom-dwelling fish has been known to cause damage to the sea bed, particularly when an area is beam-trawled for the first time, so this remains a controversial technique around which there is ongoing debate and research.
Netting for monkfish can also be problematic because their broad heads make it difficult for young fish to pass through some nets. If they reach the fishing boat young monkfish are likely to die before any attempt to throw them back in. Therefore, responsible and sustainable harvesting of monkfish needs to be done with extreme care. These factors make them especially vulnerable to overfishing and the Marine Conservation Society has therefore give them an "eat with caution" rating in their Good Fish Guide (which is available as a downloadable PDF).
Whilst there are real concerns for monkfish coming from outside the UK (particularly the Iberian population, and possibly those from Brazil, for which there is poor data), British fishermen have been working hard to ensure that their fishery is sustainable. Their efforts have enabled scientists to keep a close eye on monkfish numbers and, by introducing quotas, ensure that we know what's going on beneath the sea.
Although monkfish are currently in decline in the North Sea, both fishermen and scientists are working in partnership to reverse this trend. Meanwhile, in the south-west of the UK, fishermen from Devon and Cornwall have ensured that, through sustainable fishing practices, their stock is stable and in some places growing.
It's good to see that the monkfish in British waters being responsibly fished and monitored. However, we should remember that there are populations in decline in other parts of the world. So, if you do choose to buy monkfish, please ensure that you know that your monkfish has come from one of the sustainable fisheries.
We hope this helps clarify the current situation. Springwatch, Autumnwatch and the Nature UK website will continue to stay across this ongoing situation and will give you updates as and when things change. You can, of course, have your say right now by posting a comment below.
Comment number 1.
At 19:07 29th Dec 2010, dave wood wrote:when i was a small boy living on a farm in sussex we used to see a bird called a yellow hammer. i havent seen this bird around for years. is it still about or has it gone forever ?
your
dave wood
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Comment number 2.
At 19:15 29th Dec 2010, WanderingWill wrote:Yet again Kate (should-be-seen-and-not-heard) Humble puts her mouth in it.
I have know all about Angler Fish for decades, and another idiotic comment will not protect them when there is public demand.
It will take legal action - by concerned governments - to effect the sustainability of the species.
Please BBC will you sack this pompous elitist in favour of ten bright young graduates for the same amount of tax payer's money, for if the millionaires continue to rule then we will be continue to be deprived of intelligent nature programs.
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Comment number 3.
At 19:57 29th Dec 2010, Valerie wrote:Tell Chris Red Kites have been seen around West Meon , I myself have seen one in the Petersfield area and also over Cheesefoot Head near Winchester
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Comment number 4.
At 19:59 29th Dec 2010, Valerie wrote:Waxwings in Petersfield as well Chris - loads of them
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Comment number 5.
At 20:16 29th Dec 2010, tony gudge wrote:red kites seen this year at chilworth and at fleet services in hampshire
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Comment number 6.
At 20:40 29th Dec 2010, Neil wrote:The latest Springwatch/ Autumnwatch year review program was excellent. I was particularly impressed with the presentation on Strangford Lough, where I come from. It is terrible to see the distruction on the sea floor (as a diver) which is like an indescriminately ploughed field.
The money involved is small for the scallop fishing. The Government in Northern Ireland could (and in my view should) be subject to infraction proceedings from the EC. We should look after this ourselves. I have voted accordingly. Please do likewise.
Oh, nearly forgot - nice beaver.
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Comment number 7.
At 21:44 30th Dec 2010, john wade wrote:hi very much liked the christmas special, but in accepting chris's comment on the show about ivy its good for allsorts of reasons and not cut down,i see in my travels a lot of it and think its time to get it in check as it is doing more damage than we realise.
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Comment number 8.
At 11:39 2nd Jan 2010, larix wrote:WanderingWill. The fact that kate brought it to people's attention is a good thing. Coupled with the current scientific opinion (and the MSC) I think she was right for people to err on the cautious side. Maybe springwatch could do a feature about this on the next series to provide information and the current thinking on this, together with what is happening in the south west fisheries? Channel4 is having a "fish week" soon looking into the state of the fishing industry, stocks and conservation
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Comment number 9.
At 15:31 2nd Jan 2010, RonC wrote:Its not just Monk fish that need protecting it is all our fish stocks and it is time they either introduced 2- 5 year no take zones on a regional basis around our coasts or increased the minimum take size from the current size based on a dinner plate to those based on spawning age which I believe is 8 years for the larger fish.
We also need to scrap the stupid rules about throwing back undersized or unlicensed fish that get caught in nets and which either arrive at the surface dead or will not survive. It is such a waste and amounts to tons of fish which if landed may result in say one trawler not having to fish the next day.
I think it was Rick Steins Local Heroes program (it may have been Country File) where a trawler landed a fantastic catch of Monkfish but because the skipper was over his quota box after box of Monkfish were thrown back into the harbour.
Where is the common sense or joined up thinking?
OK, don’t let the skipper benefit from such a catch so confiscate the catch and the sales proceeds ploughed back into the fisheries program.
Unfortunately like most things the views of the voter will not be heard over the noise of the fishing lobby after all money talks louder even though we are all supposed to be part of the Big Society.
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