Lumpfish

Identification

The lumpsucker is one of the most bizarre fish in Dutch waters. The body is globular and covered with bony tubercles. No scales. The pelvic fins are modified into a powerful suction cup. Males turn orange to reddish-brown during spawning. Can reach 50 cm.

Behavior & ecology

Lives in cold water on rocky substrates. In spring, migrates to shallow coastal water to spawn. The male guards the egg mass for weeks without eating. Eggs (lumpfish caviar) are sold as a delicacy. Feeds on jellyfish, crustaceans, and worms.

In the Netherlands

Found in the northern North Sea and occasionally along the Dutch coast, mainly in winter and spring. More typical of cold waters around Scotland, Norway, and Iceland.