Ton of sunfish caught in Ceuta

ULast week, a giant sunfish was caught in the fishing nets of the vessel 500 meters off the coast of Ceuta.

The size of the animal – over a ton and 3.20 meters in length – intrigued fishermen and biologists. Before returning it to its natural habitat, DNA samples were taken to better study it.

This species is the heaviest bony fish in the world. In recent decades, very few specimens of sunfish have been found in Spain, and according to experts, none of these sizes.

“It was exceptional! A 2.7-meter sunfish weighing about two tons was caught in Japan. It is a difficult species to study, so we collect samples before returning it to the sea, ”explained Enrique Ostale, coordinator of the Marine Biological Station of the Straits of the University of Seville, also headquartered in Ceuta, to the Spaniards. El Pais newspaper.

Fish-sun, the scientific name of which excellent excellentis considered a vulnerable species that is declining in numbers, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Fishermen are not interested in these animals as this species is not used commercially. Its meat can contain toxins as it feeds on small organisms, fish larvae and jellyfish.

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