UPDATE: Fisheries Division says it is an Ocean Sunfish

The fish on Coulibistrie seashore
The fish on Coulibistrie seashore

The Fisheries Division here has confirmed that a fish that washed ashore in Coulibistrie on Thursday morning is an Ocean Sunfish.

Otherwise known as the Mola Mola or Common Mola, the Ocean Sunfish is the heaviest known bony fish in the world.

Adults weigh an average weight of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) and can be found in tropical and temperate waters around the globe.

The fish was found by villagers and caused some excitement as many say they have never seen such a fish before.

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117 Comments

  1. ramen
    September 8, 2013

    that’s why there’s the discovery channel -so next time something like this shows up ‘we’ wont say its unidentified n look like a bunch of ju ju bam bam ,,,

    • Justice and Truth
      September 9, 2013

      It is not necessary to know every type of foreign fish there is in the sea. It is not a study about fish or writing an exam on them. It is no crime not to know them or about them.
      I recall in elementary school, we were taught with pictures all the fishes that are in Dominican waters. This should really be taught in elementary school.
      The education I received including reading, grammar, spelling and proper penmanship with a fountain pen (not pencil and ball point pen) was none to compare. This was a preparation for high school.
      The Head Teacher (principal) at that time was an expert. He was in charge, intelligent and taught the students very well. The students had respect for the teachers. Parents cooperated with the teachers. It would be interesting to know what the children in elementary schools are taught and how well with discipline.

  2. Too Hard Too Long
    September 6, 2013

    DNO, never mind these comments. If there is no circus or visiting zoo on island and someone happens to see a wolf, a tiger, panda bear, racoon, zebra, hippo, ostrich or any animal that I don’t expect to be seen in Dominica, please let me know. I don’t want to go hiking and next thing when I turn a corner, an alligator is there basking by the river. I prefer to be informed.

    Thanks for the information.

  3. ty
    September 6, 2013

    I would be happy to see waht a sun fish looks like never seen one in my life. I know it was a big surprise for the people of Coulibistrie.

  4. cast the first rock
    September 6, 2013

    Wow!!! What a lot of tension some news (to inform the general public) can bring.

    Thank you for bringing the picture to us, DNO. I have gone fishing and never seen such a fish-a sunfish to me was a much prettier fish. This one looks like it crossed with a “pink” pig. It is not a very handsome fella. Does not look edible either…

    It is strange to the majority of us, but to those of you well read,National Geographic lovers and other intelligent viewers, please do not stop the information from reaching those of us who may not have the luxury of tv or are just plain ignorant.
    Forgive us!!! Even the learned men at the Fisheries Division must be excused for not knowing the names of all the creatures in God’s vast ocean. Maybe they did not do enough Creation History…shame on them!

    Kudos to you DNO…we look forward to more informative articles. Lighten up people, National Geographic feature many things which are not strange to us but to the outside world…MARVELOUS

    • jokes
      September 6, 2013

      lol my girl u must be a muslim if that fish look like a pig and it dont look edible to u :p

  5. Justice and Truth
    September 5, 2013

    Consider, there are millions of people in the world who do not know what a Sunfish looks like. It should be Sun-fish (Sun fish). They never saw one. It is no big deal about that and nothing lost.
    It pays to be honest. I have never seen one. I also do not view Discovery Channel. While it is an interesting and somewhat educating Channel, some of what is shown on that Channel could upset me. Someone informed me about that as well.

    • Anonymous
      September 6, 2013

      Certain articles placed on dominica online are disturbing and people always want pictures which I dont feel is necessary .So we learnt something new today and thats a good thing.

      • Justice and Truth
        September 7, 2013

        Disturbing in what way? Shocking, ‘Yes’; for a place as Dominica that some people would resort to such criminal activities and give Dominica a bad name.
        It is not surprising. Every country has this problem which we also view on TV, read on the Internet and in the newspapers.
        There is a difference between DNO and the Discovery Channel. DNO posts the current, factual news as it occurs and of what occurred.
        May be you should view Discovery Channel when they are showing snakes as well. Are you one of those who love viewing them?

    • ChooPs
      September 7, 2013

      you sound ignorant….

  6. trolol
    September 5, 2013

    Apparently everyone is a certified marine biologist. You can’t know everything okay? anyway I thought that the largest “bony” fish was the whale shark? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark)It’s also amazing because whale have been known to visit Dominican sea’s but rarely since they are so scarce in the world.

    • anonymous
      September 6, 2013

      Sharks don’t have bone – they have cartilage.

      • trolol
        September 6, 2013

        ohh thanks, now I’ve learned something new. :)

  7. binky
    September 5, 2013

    well that was rather obvious……what did they think it was,???

  8. CoulibistrieIfromwe
    September 5, 2013

    OK people. I’m happy that we are paying attention to the news. I’s a dead fish. My gosh, why are we wasting time talking about the name, appearance, came very early before election. Anyway, personally, i find the comments to be kind of entertaining, lightly ignorant, and somewhat silly. I’m glad that some of us are trying to educate those who do not know. Let’s keep our stress level down. No need to get HBP over this. Ok it’s a sun fish, whatever, we all do not know everything. Never saw anything like this anywhere before. My concern is what killed the fish. Bring in the pathologist to analyze this so we know if we must be aware of any danger to humans. I do not want anyone or more fish being harmed if there is an environmental danger. This is my main concern. Thanks my people.

  9. starin
    September 5, 2013

    correction people,,, it strange to our shores … i think thats what they meant

    • I love my liat!
      September 5, 2013

      dats why they were excited… -_-…obviously it’s strange to our shores…the people aren’t dumb

  10. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    But you people does give it to me on DNO wi! Like DNO is allu market place to came and entertain some pointless arguments! LOL!

    • Justice and Truth
      September 7, 2013

      :lol: …And to get you angry… :lol: Have a great day and/or sleep well. :lol:

  11. WeNiceMan.
    September 5, 2013

    If it’s not common to our waters then it’s news worthy. There is nothing to be ashamed or “smh” about.

    Relax my DA people; why are we so insecure?? Relax and live!! Life is too short.

  12. Duh
    September 5, 2013

    As soon as I saw it,knew what it was…sunfish..fisheries division should know these things…they should be ‘that’ educated about the different creatures of the ocean,regional waters and international waters because fish obviously swim,they can end up any where if they don’t Die on the way or they could drift away from there natural waters….before putting a story about a mesterious fish,they should have researched the type of fish 1st then put the add up ‘A sunfish has been found bla bla bla’…but allu so fast,like a bef

    • Justice and Truth
      September 7, 2013

      ‘mysterious’

  13. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    Looks more like a dead fish to me than a sun fish.

  14. toyz
    September 5, 2013

    yup definitely sun fish so its not strange at all … :lol: :-D :-P :mrgreen:

  15. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    its a sunfish youtube it

  16. CB4life
    September 5, 2013

    This is called a Sun fish, its not strange.

    Maybe if you guys would watch Discovery and NatGeo more often you would know that or at lease seen it already.

    • Ben Dover
      September 5, 2013

      It is not a Sun fish, as in two words. It is actually an Ocean Sunfish (sunfish is one word)/

      You watch Discovery and Natgeo but you remain stupid and want to come and play smart. SMH

      • Kaors
        September 6, 2013

        I rather he call it a Sun fish…than a strange fish. You obviously know nothing and try to save face by playing grammar nazi. So since grammar is your thing, correct the following sentence for me…i may have made a few errors. Teh litle bick boy jumpde over the likkle bik fences :lol:

    • September 5, 2013

      No need to be rude. Maybe if you had paid attention in English class you would be able to spell ‘least’ and not say ‘ at lease’

      • CB4life
        September 6, 2013

        Hush, you want to come give me grammar corrections on here. GLORY!!!!someone knows his English Well. This is a blog, not CXC exams which I got a Grade (I) all A’s in.

        The point is, this creature is not strange, its a SUNFISH!!!! And thank God some folks like me knew or had an idea as to what it was so that you all can go Google it to come on here now to try play bright.

        I hope your good Grammar got your smarty pants a great job. Cause mines sure did.

  17. did research
    September 5, 2013
  18. September 5, 2013

    Dominicans like to criticize too much. Just because you know it is a sun fish does not make you smarter than those who thought it to be “strange”. Anything seen for the first time is “strange” – a stranger. So saying it is a dumb article, based on your knowledge of that “fish” holds no water. In fact, this is a dumb argument.

    Stop behaving like you know everything.

    • Matriculation
      September 5, 2013

      You are so right. Even black people when they go to some parts of the world are seen as sytrange, since many people have not seen a black person live before.

      • Justice and Truth
        September 5, 2013

        ‘strange’ live? Whoever is on their two feet and walking is alive.
        In this age and with television, I doubt there are any people in the world who travel and who have televisions have not seen a so-called black person – colored.
        Keep in mind, black is a color, not a race. So is white. It is a color, not a race. Some people who gave these races (as they also term us) those names have it all wrong and have erred.

      • DominicanQueen
        September 6, 2013

        @ Justice and Truth
        You may think it so, that due to mass media everyone has seen a black person. But that is not necessarily true. I live in a place now where the children find my kids to be somewhat of a phenomenon. I took my children to daycare for the first time this week and just about all the children looked in amazement. They came and touched them and touched their hair and some poked and ran off. One stood and steered and asked, “what is it?” I have only seen maybe 3 other black people here in the last 5 months.

    • Justice and Truth
      September 7, 2013

      Strange words, strange happenings, strange places and strange surroundings. Strange all around. :lol:
      Even making a statement could be strange. Ever hear others say (even ourselves state):
      That’s strange! Strange as it is I had to laugh.
      Strange that you said that.
      It is strange that you are here; to see you here.
      Strange that I saw you with him or her.
      Strange that you are talking to this person.
      Strange that you bought this and that.
      Strange that you are eating this type of food and drinking this type of drink.
      Strange that you are growing a prohibited plant…
      Strange that you are wearing this (type of) outfit and shoes.
      Strange that you have this type of hairdo; wearing your hair long or short.
      Strange that you are employed here.
      Strange that you accepted this type of job.
      Strange that he/she is your boss.
      I find it strange that he/she would say that.
      Strange that he/she got sick.
      Strange that today he/she is late for work.
      Strange that he/she did not get up early – for work.
      Strange that he/she did not report for work today.
      Strange that he/she left work earlier than usual.
      Strange that he/she is driving a vehicle without a license and insurance.
      Strange that he/she is driving fast above the speed limit, not paying attention and talking on the blackberry/ cellular.
      Strange that he/she got into an accident and was not injured.
      Strange that I got carried away with this strangeness of words. :lol:
      We could add more strange-ness to it. Etc…
      It is a never ending strange and strangeness of life.
      The fish is a strange occurrence on Dominica’s shore, one which was not previously seen. Strange that it found its way to Dominica’s shore.
      Strange, as it may, as soon as it came ashore it died. Otherwise we could sell it, could cook it and eat it. :lol:
      We could write and sing a song/calypso about that.
      So we set our minds thinking. Good exercise. And let our fingers do the walking on the keyboard. :lol:
      What good did you learn today? Smile, laugh and go on as life…> Have a great day/evening! :lol:

  19. UDOHREADYET
    September 5, 2013

    looks delicious… all that fish fillet yummi!

  20. WHO VEX VEX
    September 5, 2013

    its a sun fish n its small compared to the ones i see on documentaries and it was defiantly loss cause it a rear site on the Dominican coast.

    Thanks DNO n dont worry bout the stupid comments cause i bet my last dollar 99.999% of the bloggers never saw one in person so its damn well strange

    • Sias
      September 5, 2013

      That makes no sense…not seeing it in person doesnt mean it’s strange and vise versa. I’ve never seen a wolf in person but if i see one i wont think it’s strange

      • WHO VEX VEX
        September 5, 2013

        u r trying to be smart bt far from it :lol: :lol: :lol:
        It would not be strange to people that seeing a wolf every now and then but it would definitely be to someone as smart as you seeing one at your door step in the wee hours of the morning:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

      • laps
        September 5, 2013

        Yes, it may indeed be strange in the eye of the beholder. Strange is a relative term. Indeed, the first time I saw a black squirrel it was indeed strange to me. On the other hand it looked quite typical to my husband who was used to seeing them. Let’s keep an objective and open mind. Even in 2001 , in certain parts of Mexico, the native Indian children were touching my hair and skin because they had not seen black people before.

      • Too Hard Too Long
        September 6, 2013

        I first learned about wolves reading Little Red Riding Hood. If I saw a wolf on the Waitukubuli national trail it would be the strangest thing I ever saw.

    • objective
      September 5, 2013

      Is it not strange that lately a lot of sea creatures are drifting away from their natural habitats in search of either food or comfortable environment? is it the impact of global warming and polusion, or just coincidence

      • Justice and Truth
        September 5, 2013

        ‘pollution’

  21. laetitia
    September 5, 2013

    hum it’s a japanese fish. Do we remember what happened in Japan?!

  22. Ben Dover
    September 5, 2013

    I saw some dummies both here and on Facebook giving DNO heat for the story and photo.

    Well, I have never seen this fish before and I have lived outside DA for many years. So I am not stuck in Dominica and stupid.

    Thanks DNO for this. I learnt something new today. It is a strange fish for me and many others.

    We have so many “experts” in this country and yet still we remain among the poorest in the Eastern Caribbean.

    • RV
      September 5, 2013

      I was in agreement with your post until the very last few words. SMH

      • Justice and Truth
        September 5, 2013

        How about if he had said ‘ignorant?’ :lol: What would your comment be?

    • Kaors
      September 5, 2013

      The article should have read “Rare fish in dominica” or “Rare sun fish beached”. Not “strange fish” When I was contacted by my friends cause of my infinite wisdom to identify said fish on dno that was so “strange”. I was expecting to see an anglerfish…not a …sun fish

      • Ben Dover
        September 5, 2013

        If the article had said ‘rare fish’ some idiot would do likewise and say it is not rare, it’s all over the place, blah blah blah.

      • laps
        September 5, 2013

        strange and rare are almost synonymous. The choice of terminology is subjective. In the end, it was strange to some and not to others. We live and we learn.

  23. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    its a sunfish

  24. Pass by
    September 5, 2013

    THank you DNO. I have never seen this fish before. Because of this story I now know what the sunfish looks like. Keep up the good work

  25. help
    September 5, 2013

    This fish creole name is pwezidan gwo tetais

    • ok
      September 6, 2013

      A.B.K.

  26. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    its an ocean sun fish people and their not that rear

    • smh
      September 5, 2013

      i think you meant rare. smh

      • shit
        September 5, 2013

        I’m sure u know what the person meant, but ur job is to come on dno to do spell checks yeah

  27. September 5, 2013

    thats a sun fish ppl

  28. Sindy
    September 5, 2013
  29. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    Good one Kaors

  30. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    Mola Mola, aka sunfish.. It’s a very rare specimen.
    Sad that we had to see it dead :(

  31. is tru
    September 5, 2013

    OMG it’s the little mermaid!!!
    Ohh no, it’s just a Sun fish.

    • is tru
      September 5, 2013

      hahaha, but it seems like some people have no sense of humor. hahaha, thumbs up for you! who dislike it have nooo sense of humor lol

  32. monie
    September 5, 2013

    this is no strange thing. it is a sunfish. this is not the first time a dead one has been found here.

  33. M
    September 5, 2013

    BTW people please remember that there is radiation being leaked into the ocean from China. Soooo we have to look out for any weird deformed creatures of the Sea. this looks like one of them to me…ewwwwww!!

    • ratatouille
      September 5, 2013

      u dat is d deformed creature

    • Kaors
      September 6, 2013

      Weird deformed creature. Turn off your tv…or at least put it on a channel you can learn something from

  34. block 44
    September 5, 2013

    i have seen that fish on the discovery chanel,but thats a very big one.it looks like a (bowce) family with a fin on it back and another under the belly and a very small wing.but have never seen it in d/a.

  35. anonymous
    September 5, 2013
  36. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    Sun Fish ppl

  37. Aratzio
    September 5, 2013

    First time you see, first oppertunity to taste….. Fried, Steamed, sauteed…. better act before it spoil

    • kub
      September 5, 2013

      Sun fish, off the coast of california they get as big as cars

    • PetProjects
      September 5, 2013

      @ Aratzio : No thanks, Would rather my Grand father cat meat cooking skills over tht disgusting fish any day :-D ….

      • Grease lightning
        September 5, 2013

        Kitty tastes good too *wink*

  38. allu will knw
    September 5, 2013

    every time before election a big fish comin on coulibistrie sea shore…… dat one come well early……

    • hmmm
      September 5, 2013

      girl stop being so naïve and stupid

    • PetProjects
      September 5, 2013

      @ allu will knw: Boi Dominicans can say things….bahhaahahahaha behave..lol :-P :lol: :lol: :lol:

    • lisad
      September 5, 2013

      who knows…. maybe the election is nearer than we think

  39. :)
    September 5, 2013

    hey Dno will u please change ur headline? haven’t u looked at the sites suggested to u? r u still waiting for fisheries dvision? my my..next time search the internet first find out first b4 u put ur hheadline…smh don’t b quick to put infomation and u can simply find out what it is all about b4 u put it out to the world.

    • laps
      September 5, 2013

      Its journalism- an interesting and catchy headline is desired. Its not a science project or scientific journal. The story was not meant to identify the fish or present scientific facts, but, rather, to inform readers of a non-typical fish sighting on Dominica’s shore.

  40. September 5, 2013

    Hmmm what an ugly fish I belive someone skin that fish off its skin an beat it up so it looks to me eh

  41. 2 CuTe
    September 5, 2013

    lol zor sot :mrgreen:

  42. yessa
    September 5, 2013

    lmao lol at the comments yal killin me

  43. Suelan Darroux
    September 5, 2013
  44. ratatouille
    September 5, 2013

    eat for allu to gan eat dah wii fada u doh seeing how belle dat be…… who cares wa fish dah dere.. dah go do good in a broth

    • laps
      September 5, 2013

      lol

  45. ArAb
    September 5, 2013

    I would prefer that it was stated that a sunfish which is unique to the daily catch of our fisher men washed onto the shores……..etc

  46. JahAngel
    September 5, 2013

    lmao…i sure they were saying it was socery..lol..any thing for a story…smh

  47. Kaors
    September 5, 2013

    Strange fish??? this is a sun fish…Please remove this story on the article before people think we’re a bunch of retards here in Dominica. Strange fish? start looking at Discovery channel instead of Basketball wives…strange fish…lolololol

    • rosa parks
      September 5, 2013

      The term strange fish was used because it has never been seen before by the residents, so the term Strange fish has been used in the right context

      • Kaors
        September 5, 2013

        I saw a strange moth in my room, i should call dno…that is definitely story worthy

        ADMIN: Yes, please do. Once it is strange and people have not seen it before, it is news worthy.

    • alana
      September 5, 2013

      hahahahhahahaa

    • September 5, 2013

      So just because you know what it is and some others don’t that makes them retarded? So in essence, there are some things that others know that you may not know, does that make you retarded?

      You may know what it is, but those who discovered it didn’t; as such, it was “strange” to them. Since the article is written from their perspective, it is correct to say “strange fish”. You people have too much pride always worrying about what other people say.

      • September 5, 2013

        Also, can you name every fish that exist? Do you know every animal that exist? Stop criticizing people just because you know a “fish”. CHA man!

      • H
        September 5, 2013

        those people with that kind of attitude calling others sot and retarded are the real DUMMY NI CANS

      • Kaors
        September 6, 2013

        Not saying that things people dont know makes them retarded. Im just saying that fish isnt significant enough to be called “strange”. And no i cant name all the fish in the sea but…i could give you a run for ur money :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

    • Chocolate
      September 5, 2013

      You make no sense. That’s the first time I’ve seen and heard of sunfish. You know of it but there are others who don’t so stop being foolish.

    • Ben Dover
      September 5, 2013

      Is it a sun fish (as in two words?) or Ocean Sunfish (sunfish being one word?)…or you just run a Google search and see something and run with it without even checking the proper name just so you could appear smart…lol

      • Kaors
        September 6, 2013

        Sun Fish, SUN Fish, SuN Fish, SUNFISH however you want to call it. This fish isnt strange enough to make me need too google, probably if they had done a google search they wouldnt have had to make that a big story…. “Strange fish in coulibistrie” lolol

  48. lolz
    September 5, 2013
    • Am straight......!
      September 5, 2013

      J…A.. thats not the kind of fish that was found on the beach. The photo on the website and the one on the beach are two different photos of fishes. Check it out.

  49. Dixi Normas
    September 5, 2013
  50. Kevin
    September 5, 2013

    It’s called a Mola Mola fish.

  51. lol
    September 5, 2013

    DNO have joke so they want to find the identity of the fish lol

  52. Me.
    September 5, 2013

    Ugly

  53. Dixi Normas
    September 5, 2013

    Its a sun fish!

    • Nizwiz
      September 5, 2013

      that’s correct

    • Ben Dover
      September 5, 2013

      Wrong. It is an Ocean Sunfish (sunfish is one word)

  54. Cleve
    September 5, 2013

    That’s a Sunfish

    • interested...
      September 5, 2013

      more like a night fish cause its giving me nightmares

      • rescue 911
        September 5, 2013

        Lol.sakway sort.you self take me by surprise with that comment lol.

  55. stupes
    September 5, 2013

    obviously the fish is dead beyond instant recognition, what so strange about that?

  56. daway alex
    September 5, 2013

    hmmm…it look like a deform turtle….it forgot it shell in the sea or something…..

  57. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    It’s a sun fish

  58. Anonymous
    September 5, 2013

    looks like a skulled turtle

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