A group kayaking and snorkeling off the coast of San Diego made a rare find when they discovered an oarfish, a deep-sea fish that has only been reported washed up in California 20 times over the past century. The 12-foot long silvery fish was found dead in the water last weekend, and the group, along with marine experts, assisted in bringing the creature ashore for examination.
Oarfish are known for their long, ribbon-like bodies and can reach lengths exceeding 20 feet. They typically reside in the mesopelagic zone of the deep sea, where no sunlight penetrates, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA describes oarfish as “strange and mysterious,” highlighting that little is known about them.
These fish are sometimes referred to as “doomsday fish” due to a mythical belief that they can predict natural disasters or earthquakes. According to Ben Frable, an expert from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, oarfish have only been found washed ashore in California since 1901 on 20 occasions.
The group that discovered the oarfish near La Jolla Cove worked with lifeguards and marine authorities to bring the fish to shore. They transported it on a paddleboard before moving it to the bed of a pickup truck for further study.
Scientists from the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center and Scripps planned to perform a necropsy on Friday to investigate the reason behind the fish’s demise.