Ras Al Khaimah: An Emirati fisherman was left with a weighty question at Al Muaireed Fish Market here on Sunday after his more experienced peers concluded they had never come across a fish like the half-tonner he had netted.
The toothless rarity found no buyers when it was put on auction. Eisa Saif Darwish, a fisherman hailing from the Sha'am area, needed all of four hours and four Asian assistants to catch the fish. Khalifa Butti, the supervisor of the emirate's Higher Fishing Committee, said experts had not been able to classify the fish and it had been ruled unfit for human consumption as a precaution.
Butti said he had never come across a similar catch in 25 years of seafaring. Salem Al Batini, the auction in-charge at the fish market, said he had also never seen anything similar in his 35 years in the industry.
Some South African expats suggested the catch could probably be a sunfish, which is found along the Cape Town coast.
Your comments
I used to see Sunfish in the Gulf Stream here in the US, particularly in August. At first we would see the dorsal fin and think it was a shark, but when we got close we would see it just swimming along flopping side to side without a care in the world. Not very good eating I'm told.
Sachem
NJ,USA
Posted: February 23, 2009, 18:43
this is an 'Ocean Sunfish'.
this fish grows upto 10feet in length
Keyur Athaide
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 15:54
It is definitely a SUNFISH!!! It is most probably an endangered species as this species is not seen all the time. BUT it is an edible fish (sorry for animal lovers).
Jessie E. Banno
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 15:46
This is a Moon Fish. I saw the same once in Valencia Aquarium,Spain. A very interesting looking fish for sure.
Lydia Kapri
Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Posted: February 23, 2009, 15:42
It's an ocean sunfish. They have been found in Gulf waters before - I saw one whilst diving in the Mussendam about 8 years ago.
Rodger Clarke
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 15:16
From Wiki: The ocean sunfish, Mola mola, or common mola, is the heaviest known bony fish in the world. It has an average adult weight of one metric ton (2,200 lbs). The species is native to tropical and temperate waters around the globe. It resembles a fish head with a tail, and its main body is flattened laterally. Sunfish can be as tall as they are long when their dorsal and ventral fins are extended. Sunfish live on a diet that consists mainly of jellyfish
G Diver
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 14:42
Yes, that's definitely a sunfish. What a shame, such a huge magnificent creature seems to have had to perish for no reason (no buyers for consumption.)
Jessica H.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 14:26
Its an Ocean Sun Fish.
Claire
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 14:20
Looks like a Mola mola, also called Moonfish. I'm sure one of the UAE Aquariums has specialists that can easily identify this fish.
Harpia
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 14:15
The fish in question is a sunfish or commomly known as MOLA MOLA considered a delicacy in some countries.
Vaine Puia
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 14:06
It's a cute fish though
Nette
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 13:34
It seems like a Sunfish which I once saw in Animal Planet.
Adil Khalid
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 13:17
Oh My God, he caught Nemo.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 13:14
I saw this fish in Animal Crossing - a popular Nintendo DS game. I can't remember the name but I think it could be a sun fish.
Mohammad Obaid
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 11:31
The unidentified fish should have been preserved in Formalin and refrigerated for later identification of Ichthyologists (Fish Experts). Who knows, maybe it is a new species of fish only found in this region and was accidentally caught by the fishermen? If you need some help in the identification, I can contact people where I used to have a training on environmental matters.
Jessie E. Banno
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 10:42
