Monkfish is a delicacy in Japan and Europe: Monkfish is Good Source of Niacin, Vitamins B6, B12, and Potassium. Monkfish Can Capture Waterbirds at the Surface!

The Monkfish is widely considered one of the world’s ugliest animals. The reason it earns the title of being one of the ugliest, is it’s design: crusty, strange, jagged and deformed. It uses it’s esca (a lure) to trick fish into coming close and them it swallows them whole. It’s even been said that the Monkfish can capture waterbirds at the surface.

So what makes Monkfish is a delicacy in Japan and Europe? Despite it frequently being called one of the world’s ugliest animals, the Monkfish has a tender flesh that is highly desired in Japan and Europe. Particularly in Japan, demand can push the price to shocking levels. In the USA, Monkfish, dubbed the “Poor Man’s Lobster”, can actually be more expensive than Lobster. The price ranges, from $10 to $25 per pound in the USA, and in England the price can reach up to £30/lb, roughly $45 US dollars. That price difference certainly shows demand can be much higher in Europe. Despite such peculiar looks, helping drive demand is the fact that Monkfish is a good source of niacin, vitamins B6, B12, and potassium.