Marine Animals

Ocean Sunfish Bycatch Welfare

Ocean sunfish are among the most commonly discarded bycatch species in Mediterranean and Atlantic fisheries, raising welfare concerns about their handling and mortality.

Key Facts

Mola mola can weigh over 2,000 kg making them the worlds heaviest bony fish
Ocean sunfish are frequently caught in drift gillnets and purse seine nets
High discard rates occur because sunfish have no commercial value in most markets
Sunfish caught in nets often sustain significant injuries before being discarded

Welfare Considerations

Ocean sunfish caught as bycatch experience significant stress, physical injury from entanglement, and often slow death after being discarded. Their large size makes them difficult to handle and return to the water quickly. Improved fishing practices and gear modifications can reduce sunfish bycatch.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns to reduce Mediterranean drift gillnet use
Choose tuna certified by methods with low bycatch rates
Advocate for bycatch reduction requirements in fisheries management
Support research into fishing gear modifications that reduce sunfish bycatch