Devil fish/The wolffish (Anarhichas lupus), also known as the seawolf, Atlantic catfish, ocean catfish, devil fish, wolf eel (the common name for its Pacific relative), woof or sea cat, is a marine fish of the wolffish family Anarhichadidae, native to the North Atlantic Ocean. The numbers of the Atlantic wolffish in US waters are rapidly being depleted, most likely due to overfishing and bycatch, and it is currently a Species of Concern according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service.^[rx]

The Seawolf, Ocean catfish, Atlantic catfish, Wolf eel, Devilfish, Woof, Sea cat, Wolf-fish, Cat-fish,  Atlantic wolfish (Anarhichas lupus) is the perciform fish of the family Anarhichadidae. It is found in sand or mud bottoms and is 40 to 200 m deep. It is native to Northern Atlantic as well as Pacific Oceans. The body of Wolffish is elongated, subcylindrical, compressed, smooth, slippery measuring 1.5 meters (5 ft.) long. Normally it weighs about 18 kg (40 lb). The skin’s color varies from purplish to brown, olive green, and blueish gray. It breeds from December to March. The diet consists of mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, crabs, starfish, lobsters, sea urchins, shellfish, and prawns. Cod and Greenland sharks are known as their predators. It usually has a lifespan of 20 years.

History

They are found 10 to 400 meters deep. Atlantic Wolffish is found in both the Arctic and North Atlantic. In Northeast Atlantic, it is found in Faroe Islands, Iceland, North Sea, White Sea, and the Barents Sea. In West North Atlantic, it is found in the Davis Strait and Cape Hatteras. In Canada, it occurs in Newfoundland, Labrador Sea, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Bay of Fundy, Scotian Shelf, and the Gulf of Maine.

Diet

Atlantic wolffish use their strong jaws to eat hardshell mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms. They do not eat other fish. They are known to frequently eat large whelks (Buccinum), cockles (Polynices, Chrysodomus and Sipho), sea clams (Mactra), large hermit crabs, starfish, sea urchins. They are an important predator of sea urchins and green crabs, whose populations escalate rapidly and can negatively affect the health of a marine system.^[rx]

Reproduction

The manner in which Atlantic wolffish fertilize their eggs distinguishes them from many fish. Instead of the female depositing her eggs in the open ocean for the male fish to fertilize and then continue on his way, they are internally fertilized and the male wolffish stays with the nest and protects the eggs for as long as four months until the brood is strong enough to gain independence. Their eggs are 5.5–6.0 mm in diameter, (among the largest fish eggs known), yellow-tinted and opaque. The eggs are laid on the ocean floor, often in shoal water, sticking together in loose clumps, surrounded by seaweed and stones. Atlantic wolffish mature relatively late, at age six.^[rx]

Proximity	Amount	% DV
Water	88.33 g	N/D
Energy	146 Kcal	N/D
Energy	613 kJ	N/D
Protein	26.7 g	53.40%
Total Fat (lipid)	3.64 g	10.40%
Ash	1.77 g	N/D

Minerals	Amount	% DV
Calcium, Ca	10 mg	1.00%
Iron, Fe	0.14 mg	1.75%
Magnesium, Mg	45 mg	10.71%
Phosphorus, P	305 mg	43.57%
Potassium, K	458 mg	9.74%
Sodium, Na	130 mg	8.67%
Zinc, Zn	1.19 mg	10.82%
Copper, Cu	0.044 mg	4.89%
Manganese, Mn	0.023 mg	1.00%
Selenium, Se	55.7 µg	101.27%

Vitamins	Amount	% DV
Water-soluble Vitamins
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)	0.248 mg	20.67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	0.115 mg	8.85%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)	3.092 mg	19.33%
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)	0.783 mg	15.66%
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)	0.55 mg	42.31%
Vitamin B9 (Folate)	7 µg	1.75%
Folic Acid	0 µg	N/D
Folate, food	7 µg	N/D
Folate, DEF	7 µg	N/D
Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamine)	2.8 µg	116.67%
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Vitamin A, RAE	155 µg	22.14%
Vitamin A, IU	515 IU	N/D
Retinol	155 µg	N/D

Lipids	Amount	% DV
Fatty acids, total saturated	0.557 g	N/D
Myristic acid  14:00(Tetradecanoic acid)	0.101 g	N/D
Palmitic acid 16:00 (Hexadecanoic acid)	0.386 g	N/D
Stearic acid 18:00 (Octadecanoic acid)	0.07 g	N/D
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated	1.276 g	N/D
Palmitoleic acid 16:1 (hexadecenoic acid)	0.288 g	N/D
Oleic acid 18:1 (octadecenoic acid)	0.787 g	N/D
Gadoleic acid 20:1 (eicosenoic acid)	0.174 g	N/D
Erucic acid 22:1 (docosenoic acid)	0.027 g	N/D
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated	1.289 g	N/D
Linoleic acid 18:2 (octadecadienoic acid)	0.031 g	N/D
Linolenic acid 18:3 (Octadecatrienoic acid)	0.014 g	N/D
18:04	0.093 g	N/D
20:4 undifferentiated	0.136 g	N/D
20:5 n-3 (EPA)	0.468 g	N/D
22:5 n-3 (DPA)	0.065 g	N/D
22:6 n-3 (DHA)	0.482 g	N/D
Cholesterol	70 mg	N/D

Amino acids	Amount	% DV
Tryptophan	0.299 g	67.95%
Threonine	1.171 g	66.53%
Isoleucine	1.23 g	73.56%
Leucine	2.171 g	58.74%
Lysine	2.453 g	73.36%
Methionine	0.79 g	N/D
Cystine	0.287 g	N/D
Phenylalanine	1.042 g	N/D
Tyrosine	0.901 g	N/D
Valine	1.376 g	65.15%
Arginine	1.598 g	N/D
Histidine	0.787 g	63.88%
Alanine	1.615 g	N/D
Aspartic acid	2.733 g	N/D
Glutamic acid	3.985 g	N/D
Glycine	1.282 g	N/D
Proline	0.944 g	N/D
Serine	1.089 g	N/D

*Above mentioned Percent Daily Values (%DVs) are based on 2,000 calorie diet intake. Daily values (DVs) may be different depending upon your daily calorie needs. Mentioned values are recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They are not healthbenefitstimes.com recommendations. Calculations are based on average age of 19 to 50 years and weigh 194 lbs. Source: https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ 

Health benefits of Wolffish

Wolffish is loaded with nutrients that assist in the performance of bodily functions effectively. It is a great source of vitamins and minerals. The study shows that the intake of seafood helps to provide relief from asthma symptoms. Due to the high content of omega-3 fatty acids, it helps to overcome depression. It promotes brain functions as well as concentration ability.

1. Cure anemia

It helps to treat megaloblastic anemia and pernicious anemia. Vitamin B12 helps to restore Intrinsic factor that helps to maintain normality of blood. (1)

2. Skin health

Protein is essential for strengthening tissues and mechanical support. It is vital and strengthens tissues, cells, and organs such as skin. The study shows that collagen helps to restore dermal collagen protein synthesis. The level of collagen determines the skin’s appearance and health. (2) (3)

3. Treat weakness

Phosphorus helps to cure numbness, muscle weakness, and fatigue. The supplements of phosphorus help to cure sexual weakness and other health conditions such as frigidity, loss of libido, impotence as well as sperm motility. (4)

4. Strengthen immunity

Pyridoxine is vital for immune health in the body. It helps to prevent various infections. The body can be victimized if this vitamin is not adequate in the body. (5)

5. Eye health

Vitamin A is essential for promoting vision. It prevents the conditions such as dry eyes and assists to form visual purple in the eyes. It promotes retina health and prevents the chances of night blindness. It also lowers the chances of macular degeneration and cataracts that are related to aging. (6)

6. Treatment for Alzheimer’s

Thiamine helps to slow down Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamin B1 serves as an effective treatment for this disease. The study is still going on to determine more. (7)

7. Maintain cholesterol level

Niacin helps to effectively lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. It also prevents the thickening of artery walls and chances of atherosclerosis. (8)

8. Reduce stress

Pantothenic acid helps to lower stress, depression, and anxiety. It also promotes mental fitness. It regulates hormones that are liable for these mental problems. (9)

9. Heart problems

Magnesium prevents irregular heartbeats and prevents muscle stress. It prevents the health problems such as indigestion, cramps, vomiting, constipation, flatulence, and abdominal pain. The deficiency of magnesium in the body leads to lethal results. (10)

10. Cure cramps

The low presence of potassium in the blood is the cause of a condition named hypokalemia. The high consumption of potassium-rich food prevents the chances of muscle cramps. (11)

How to Eat         

• It is consumed fried, steamed, boiled, broiled, baked, and microwaved.
• It is added to various recipes.

Precautions 

• The consumption of sea fish if one is trying to reduce inflammatory diseases such as heart disease.
• Farmed ones contain arsenic that leads to arsenic poisoning.
• Seafood should be cooked safely in order to prevent foodborne illness.
• Pregnant women, young children, older adults, people having lower stomach acid and compromised immune systems (HIV/AIDS, liver disease, cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, people taking steroids, chemotherapy, or immune system) are prone to higher risk.
• It might be contaminated with bacteria such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and other bacteria relate to land use, sewage discharges, runoff, etc. These microorganisms occur naturally in warm coastal waters which could cause even death or serious illness in individuals who are at higher risk.
• Listeria monocytogenes could cause a serious foodborne illness known as listeriosis.
• The virus Hepatitis A could survive in light cooking. So one should consume it after being properly cooked.
• Fish could have toxins that could cause illness such as ciguatoxin and scombrotoxin, or histamine poisoning.
• Sea fish is related to Scombrotoxin (histamine) which develops when fish is not kept cold enough. The symptoms develop quickly and also disappear completely within 24 hours.
• The flesh of tropical marine fishes might cause ciguatera poisoning experiencing gastrointestinal maladies that could last for several days, weakness in arms and legs, and reversal inability to differentiate between cold and hot. The symptoms could persist for weeks.
• Farmed seafood results in to increase in inflammation leading to weight gain, arthritis, and heart diseases.
• The imbalance ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 causes heart disease and hypertension.
• Seafood and fish in farms have polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organophosphorus (OPs), organochlorine (OC), trifluralin pesticides, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) causing diseases or even death.
• The seafood has a high content of mercury, which may lead to mercury toxicity.
• Consume it in moderate amounts. So consume it with caution or Avoid consuming it raw.
• Some people might get allergic reactions. So avoid it.
• It has a high chance of contamination.
• One should limit its intake.
• Consult the doctor by pregnant women and children before consuming it. Children and pregnant women should avoid it because the high content of mercury might cause a negative impact on the development of the nervous system of a fetus.
• Seafood or fish have purines in it which is harmful to people having purine-related problems. Excess purines result in an excess buildup of uric acid that could lead to the formation of kidney stones as well as gout.

References

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