The Moonfish, or Opah, is an ocean vertebrate that is found in the Mesopelagic depths of the open ocean. It can weigh up to 600 pounds and grow to be as large as 6.6 feet in length!
The Moonfish can be identified by its disc-shape, steel blue and rosy colored body, white speckles, and bright red-orange fins.
The Moonfish's adaptations are what makes it so amazing and unique. Unlike most fish in the ocean, the Opah is endothermic. Its gill tissue is covered with red and blue blood vessels allowing the fish to maintain a higher body temperature while staying in deep, cold waters. This allows them to think and move more swiftly in the deep sea. The Moonfish is very fascinating to me for this reason. Being endothermic is very rare among sea creatures, as most fish are ectothermic. Its circular shape and comparatively large size also allow the Moonfish to conserve warmth in the open ocean. These adaptations allow the fish to swim in quick bursts of speed.
Humans directly encounter this fish by fishing for and eating moonfish. They are often present at fish auctions in Hawaii. Without the moonfish, revenue, food, and a beautiful creature would be lost.
To ensure the survival of the Moonfish, we must monitor fishing rates and assure that their populations do not become overfished. Overfishing is one of the most serious threats to fish today. It's the act of excessively fishing an area and species to the point of exhaustion.Overfishing impacts the ocean environment and its creatures by wiping out species before they can reproduce, affecting the food supply of other animals in the food web, and causing the overgrowth of algae, which can also cause corals to die. To make a difference in the midst of this devastating issue, you can follow consumer guides and refrain from ordering fish that have been exhausted to allow them time to repopulate.