Two “doomsday fish” spotted on California beaches in less than three months

A rare deep-sea Pacific oarfish measuring 9.5 feet was recovered last week at Grandview Beach in Encinitas, California, marking only the 21st time since 1901 that this species has washed up on California shores. The discovery was made by PhD candidate Alison Laferriere from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The oarfish was found stretched out on the rocky shoreline and has since been moved to the Scripps Institution for further study and an autopsy.

The sighting was reported by New York Post, Asia Economy, among other outlets.

Oarfish are exceptionally rare creatures, typically inhabiting depths between 200 and 1,000 meters. They can grow to lengths of up to 30 feet, making them the longest bony fish in the world, yet they remain largely unstudied by scientists due to their deep-sea habitat and infrequent appearances near the coast. They are characterized by their long, scaleless, ribbon-like silvery bodies with dark spots and a long red dorsal fin crest extending from the top of their heads.

This recent wash-up offers scientists a unique opportunity to study this elusive species without needing to dive into the ocean. “We took samples and froze the specimen pending a more detailed study and its final preservation in the collection,” explained Ben Frable, Scripps Marine Vertebrate Collection Manager. He added, “Like with the previous oarfish, this specimen and the samples taken from it will be able to tell us much about the biology, anatomy, genomics and life history of oarfishes.” The oarfish will undergo a necropsy to determine its cause of death, providing invaluable data for researchers.

This incident comes just months after another oarfish measuring 12.25 feet was found by kayakers on August 10 near La Jolla Cove, California, only 20 miles south of Grandview Beach. The two discoveries within three months are particularly notable, as only 21 oarfish have been found on California beaches in over a century. Even oarfish bodies rarely float into shallow waters, making these recent events extremely unusual.

The proximity of these strandings has reignited discussions about the oarfish’s mythical reputation as a predictor of natural disasters. Oarfish have sparked myths and legends for centuries and are sometimes referred to as “doomsday fish.” There is a superstition that their appearance is a precursor to disasters like earthquakes, particularly fueled by the sighting of 20 oarfish washed ashore before the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Notably, two days after the oarfish was found in August, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred in Los Angeles, California, raising concerns about this mythical association.

However, scientists emphasize that there is no confirmed correlation between Pacific oarfish and earthquakes. A 2019 study by researchers in Japan found no solid scientific evidence linking oarfish to earthquakes, leaving the doom they may or may not portend open to anyone’s guess. Experts have declared, “There is no confirmed correlation between Pacific oarfish and earthquakes,” and “There is no scientific basis, so we should not make hasty conjectures,” despite the longstanding myths surrounding their appearances.

According to researchers, the recent oarfish sightings are much less nefarious. Pacific oarfish are known to come close to the surface when they are sick, dying, or disoriented. Various factors could contribute to these strandings. “We do not know the clear reason for the death of the Pacific oarfish, but changes in the marine environment, population increase, El Niño, and La Niña are variables that may be at play,” explained Ben Frable. He suggested that the sightings could be related to changes in ocean conditions and an increase in the oarfish population in the region. “There was a weak El Niño earlier this year,” he stated.

The recent wash-up coincided with the red tide and Santa Ana winds last week, but many variables could lead to these strandings. The phenomenon of oarfish sightings has sparked researchers’ interest in the possible causes behind these occurrences, with broader shifts such as El Niño and La Niña patterns being considered.

For scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, these rare specimens present an incredible opportunity to learn more about a species that is largely unstudied due to its deep-sea habitat. The oarfish’s unique biology, anatomy, genomics, and life history can provide insights into deep-sea ecosystems and how changes in ocean conditions might affect marine life.

The discoveries have also drawn attention to the species’ elusive nature and the mysteries that still surround the ocean’s depths. Oarfish typically inhabit the dark ocean depths, and their long, ribbon-like bodies and rare appearances have historically contributed to sea serpent legends.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq