Fresh or Chilled Monkfish (Whole or Dressed, Excluding Fillets, Livers & Roes)

Monkfish (Lophius spp.) — marketed in the US as 'poor man's lobster' for its firm, mild tail meat — enters under this line in whole or dressed form, distinct from its fillets and the separately traded monkfish livers that command premium prices in Japanese and European markets. FDA governs admissibility of all imported fresh seafood, and monkfish is subject to species-verification scrutiny given documented mislabeling history in the trade. Importers should confirm that the Lophius species designation on commercial documentation aligns with the actual species harvested, as FDA has flagged monkfish substitution in enforcement actions.

AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.