How big do ocean sunfish get?

Adults typically weigh between 247 and 1,000 kg (545–2,205 lb) and can be about as tall as they are long when fins are extended.

Where do ocean sunfish live?

They are native to tropical and temperate waters worldwide.

Are ocean sunfish threatened by predators or humans?

Adults have few natural predators but may be eaten by sea lions, killer whales, and sharks; they are also frequently caught in gillnets and are considered a delicacy in some countries.

Is their population well known?

No — population structure and status are reported as poorly understood and subject to ongoing research.

Are there regulations concerning sunfish?

In the European Union, regulations ban the sale of fish and fishery products derived from the family Molidae.

Was the ocean sunfish ever misidentified?

It was formerly misidentified as the heaviest bony fish; that status actually belongs to the closely related Mola alexandrini.

How many living species are in the family Molidae?

There are five extant species in the family Molidae.

What research methods are used to study sunfish?

Research efforts include aerial population surveys, satellite tags, genetic analysis of tissue samples, and collection of amateur sighting data.

Where to See Ocean Sunfish While Diving

The ocean sunfish (Mola mola) is one of the largest bony fishes and the type species of the genus Mola. Adults typically weigh between 247 and 1,000 kg (545–2,205 lb). The body is flattened laterally and can resemble a fish head without a tail; when dorsal and ventral fins are extended, the fish can be about as tall as it is long. It is native to tropical and temperate waters around the world. Many aspects of sunfish biology remain poorly understood, including mating and spawning locations, early life stages, movement and migration patterns, population structure and status, diet and trophic ecology, and post-release survival rates.

Population status and structure are poorly understood; sunfish are frequently caught in gillnets, they are consumed as a delicacy in some countries, and the EU bans sale of Molidae products.

Movement and migration patterns are poorly understood and the subject of ongoing research.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Nusa Penida, Costa Brava and Medes Islands, Côte Vermeille (Banyuls-sur-Mer and Cerbère) and countries such as Spain, Indonesia, France for divers building trips around ocean sunfish.