[Pseudoscience-is-malarkey (OP)]

?

[alancalverd]

No. You can have it naked or covered with breadcrumbs if you wish, but the battered variety generally tastes best (the fish is effectively sealed and evenly steamed rather than charred on the outside) and is easiest to eat with your fingers. High street chippies generally don't like deepfrying bare or crumbed fish because bare fish makes the oil smelly and the crumbs burn, blacken and sink, whereas surplus batter rises and can be skimmed off before it burns. And the fried batter makes the whole thing mechanically rigid and stable - plating bare fish in a restaurant is an art.

[GertrudeFranklin]

It depends on the family's habitudes) My aunt from UK does it so always.

[Petrochemicals]

What is dry batter?

Or do you mean do we have a fillet of halibut seasoned only with herbs and a squeeze of lemon?