Rare Sunfish Spotted Near St Ives Cornwall Coastline

Beachgoers in St Ives, Cornwall, were amazed to spot a rare giant sunfish, or Mola mola, swimming close to the British shoreline. The fish, known for its large disc-like body and flapping fins, was monitored by National Coastwatch St Ives before it drifted back into deeper waters. Sunfish are among the heaviest bony fish in the world and rarely observed near UK coasts, though they have been spotted elsewhere, such as in Poole earlier this year. Meanwhile, off the coast of California, rare marine sightings also captured public attention, including an adult great white shark filmed just 50 yards from Santa Monica Pier, highlighting the presence of mature sharks in waters previously thought to host mainly juveniles. Additionally, boaters near Monterey Bay enjoyed sightings of Casper, an all-white Risso’s dolphin described as a “celebrity sighting,” alongside humpback whales. These events underscore the diverse and occasionally surprising marine life encountered in coastal waters on both sides of the Atlantic.