Distribution and abundance of sunfish (Family Molidae) in the Northern Arabian Sea based on data collected through the Observer Programme of WWF-Pakistan

Sunfish are among the important bycatch species of the tuna gillnet fisheries of Pakistan.  Three species Mola alexandrini. Mola mola and Ranzania laevis  are known from Pakistan, however, bumphead sunfish (M. alexandrini)  seems to be the dominating species. High incidences of entanglements were reported during 2018 and 2019 in the tuna gillnet fisheries of Pakistan which is attributed to increase frequency of blooms of jellyfish and gelatinous material along the coast of Pakistan. Sunfish are known to feed on jellyfish, siphonophoes and salpids which are now frequently found along Pakistan coast. Major entanglements of sunfishes were reported from the continental margin along Sindh and Balochistan coast. No mortality of sunfish was reported and all entangled sunfishes were safely released by WWF-Pakistan’s trained observers. A guideline for safe release of bycatch species including sunfish is being published.