March 13, 2018 — BOSTON — Hours before the doors opened for the massive Seafood Expo North America, even before city Fisheries Executive Director Al Cottone ventured onto the ever-scenic stretch of Route 1 southbound, potential calamity emerged.

For the fourth consecutive year, the city of Gloucester was announcing its presence with authority at the international show in the hope of building its brand as a seafood supplier to the world. And much of the day depended on the elegant allure of the colossally ugly monkfish.

Monkfish stew being doled out at the city’s booth. The VIP, invite-only lunchtime tasting in the glassed-in suite overlooking the expansive exhibition floor featuring monkfish arancini, bang-bang monkfish and monkfish tacos from Todd Snopkowski’s crew at SnapChef.

Only one problem:

The city planned to use a freshly caught monkfish as a centerpiece display at the swanky tasting. Cottone was to bring it with him. But, because the foul weather of the last fortnight had kept almost all of the city’s boats from fishing, there wasn’t fresh monkfish to be found.

“I went everywhere and asked everybody,” Cottone said. “Nobody’s been able to go out, so nobody’s got them.”

The abbey was fresh out of monks.

Fisheries Commission Chairman Mark Ring had an idea for a possible solution.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Times