What has big lips, a memorable name, and might one day be a fixture on California sushi menus? The monkeyface prickleback! This white-fleshed fish is an excellent substitute for Unagi, or freshwater eel. Populations of that popular delicacy have declined dramatically due to wild harvest, climate change, and other human-caused stressors. European, Japanese and American eels are all listed as endangered. But monkeyface prickleback has the potential to be grown sustainably in captivity, and some think it could be a great candidate for aquaculture.
Monkeyface pricklebacks are West Coast natives, and are found in near-shore rocky reef and tidal habitats from Oregon to Baja California, Mexico. Long and eel-like, these fish can grow up to 30 inches in length and live for 18 years. Mature monkeyface pricklebacks are herbivores, feeding mostly on red and green algae, and are the only large-bodied herbivorous fish in Central and Northern California…
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