Order member, perhaps, to search for bottom-dwelling sea creature (8)
I believe the answer is:
monkfish
'bottom-dwelling sea creature' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'order member perhaps to search' is the wordplay.
'order member perhaps' becomes 'monk' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'to search' becomes 'fish' (fishing is a kind of searching).
'monk'+'fish'='MONKFISH'
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for monkfish that I've seen before include "Swimmer; mosh fink (anag.)" , "type of shark" , "Angel shark - seafood" .)