The Cold Water Fish That Looks Dead, But Isn't

Ocean sunfish are one of the strangest fish on Earth. They can look like a giant floating dinner plate, drift sideways at the surface, and appear almost lifeless, but their strange behaviour is part of an incredible survival strategy.

In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin explores why the mola mola, also known as the ocean sunfish, spends time in cold Canadian waters. These waters may not look tropical or crystal clear, but they are packed with plankton, jellyfish, nutrients, and life. That productivity attracts whales, turtles, seabirds, sharks, and even one of the heaviest bony fish on the planet.

This episode is a reminder that cold water oceans are not boring. They are full of surprises, strange animals, and signs of healthy food webs hiding in plain sight.