Marine Animals

Ocean Sunfish Bycatch Welfare

Ocean sunfish are the worlds heaviest bony fish and experience high bycatch mortality with minimal welfare consideration.

Key Facts

Ocean sunfish are the worlds heaviest bony fish reaching 2,300 kg
They are among the most common bycatch in Mediterranean tuna fisheries
Most bycatch sunfish are discarded dead or injured after net entanglement
Sunfish have complex nervous systems and behavioral responses to injury
Their ecological role in jellyfish predation makes conservation significant

Welfare Considerations

Ocean sunfish bycatch welfare is largely overlooked despite the species size and complexity. Entanglement in nets causes injury, and the prolonged time in nets before discard causes distress. Sunfish behavior suggests pain responses to handling and injury. Reducing sunfish bycatch through selective gear and seasonal fishing restrictions addresses both welfare and conservation.

What You Can Do

Support bycatch reduction programs that include non-target species like sunfish
Advocate for Mediterranean bycatch reporting requirements
Support research on sunfish welfare and bycatch reduction
Choose certified sustainable seafood from fisheries with bycatch monitoring
Engage with ocean sunfish conservation and welfare as an overlooked issue