Rare tropical fish off Isle of Wight photographed by sailor

A FAIRLY rare summer visitor to the Isle of Wight — the Ocean Sunfish — has been spotted and snapped off Gurnard Bay.

In the UK, sunfish may be seen between June and September and are most often spotted off south-west England.

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The fish species, known scientifically as Mola mola, was photographed in The Solent by County Press reader, Amy Ferrier, yesterday (Thursday, June 20).

The ocean sunfish can grow up to 11ft in length (Image: Pixabay)

An ocean sunfish spotted off Gurnard. (Image: Amy Ferrier)

They can grow to an average length of around 6ft and have no tail, but can grow up to 11ft long and weigh up to 2.5 tonnes.

The species is also harmless to the public.

Its identity was confirmed by marine expert, Tim Ferrero, of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

He said: "Almost certainly Mola mola, the ocean sunfish, which is not an uncommon summer visitor, as they live in both tropical and temperate waters."

The sunfish may have been following jellyfish, which is one of its primary foods.

"They do eat jellyfish — and they also tend to turn up in our waters in numbers in the summer," added Tim.

An ocean sunfish in The Solent off Gurnard. (Image: Amy Ferrier)

"I believe there are also records of sunfish eating eelgrass (a type of seagrass). The north of the Island has some very important, protected meadows."

Amy, who sent in her pictures to the County Press, said: "It's not every day you find a sunfish in The Solent. It was off Gurnard when we sailed past it."

Although there is no definitive evidence to suggest the sunfish sighting is linked to climate change and a rise in sea temperatures, research has shown the warming of the oceans is clear.

As a result, sunfish sightings in British waters may increase in the coming decades.