The legendary “doom fish,” known as the oarfish, has returned to California with the recent discovery of a nearly 10-foot-long specimen on a beach in Encinitas. Oarfish are rarely seen creatures that inhabit the deep ocean, up to 3,300 feet below the surface. Believed to be predictors of natural disasters or earthquakes, oarfish have sparked myths and legends for centuries. In 2011, a surge in oarfish sightings preceded Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Since 1901, only 21 oarfish have washed up on California shores, making them incredibly rare. Shifts in ocean conditions and potential increases in oarfish populations may be behind recent sightings, according to researchers at the Scripps Institution. The oarfish found earlier this year measured 12 feet long and was taken to the NOAA’s Fisheries Science Center for study.
Although there is no solid scientific evidence linking oarfish to earthquakes, their mysterious appearances continue to intrigue scientists and the public. Researchers are studying these rare encounters to learn more about oarfish behavior and their connection to ocean conditions. The presence of oarfish near underwater canyons in La Jolla suggests that disoriented or injured deep-sea fish may wash up in that area. As scientists delve deeper into the study of the oarfish, the mysteries surrounding this fascinating creature remain open to interpretation.
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