Monkfish have two colours of skin covering the whole tail; the upper layer is dark whereas the lower is light - the latter is often removed by fishmongers before selling. The colour of the skin varies depending on the habitat it lived in - a lighter colour reflects a sandy or farmed habitat, while darker skin indicates a pebbled, stony environment. The dark skin needs to be removed before eating, whereas the light colour lower skin can be cooked and crisped.