"A second rare 'doomsday fish' has been discovered on a Southern California beach."
For the second time this year, a rare deep-sea creature known as an oarfish, often referred to as the "doomsday fish," has washed up on a Southern California beach. This recent discovery occurred at Grandview Beach in Encinitas, where Alison Laferriere, a doctoral student from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, encountered the remarkable 9- to 10-foot-long fish. The news was shared on Scripps' social media channels.
The oarfish, famed for its long, ribbon-like body and mythical appearance, can grow up to an astounding 30 feet. Its nickname, "doomsday fish," stems from folklore that associates its sightings with ominous events. After Laferriere reported the find, the specimen was transferred to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center for further examination by NOAA Fisheries Service and Scripps scientists.
This specimen is notably smaller than the oarfish discovered in La Jolla earlier this year. Researchers remain uncertain about why these deep-sea dwellers, typically elusive and rarely seen, have been appearing on California beaches more often. Since 1901, only about 20 oarfish have been documented along the state's coastline, according to Scripps. These creatures usually surface only when unwell, disoriented, or near death, says the Ocean Conservancy.
Scientists at Scripps are exploring potential explanations for the strandings, including environmental factors like oceanic shifts, weak El Niño conditions, and recent red tide activity. Samples were taken from the fish, which has been preserved for further study of its biology, genetics, and anatomy.
Addressing a common misconception, Scripps dispelled the myth that oarfish are harbingers of natural disasters. Despite their legendary association with earthquakes, a 2019 study found no scientific link between oarfish strandings and seismic activity.
This rare discovery provides researchers with a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of these enigmatic creatures and their role in the ocean ecosystem.