A new sighting off the coast of Baja California Sur has brought the oarfish back into the public eye and reignited long-standing legends about the enigmatic animal. These deep-sea giants, also referred to as “doomsday fish,” have long been associated with superstition and tales of tragedy.
Robert Hayes from Idaho caught the unusual sighting as he and his wife were at the beach. It was the first time he had ever seen such a species, Hayes said, describing the moment he found the crippled oarfish floundering along the coast. Before aiding in the fish’s return to the sea, he immediately began recording the incident. Later, his story of the event was featured in a Washington Post piece, which stoked interest in the oarfish-related “harbinger of calamity” myths.
The Mysterious Oarfish
Although they are typically about 10 feet (ca. 3 m) (about 3 meters) long, oarfish are renowned for their amazing size and can reach lengths of up to 36 feet (ca. 11 m) (approximately 11 meters). The mesopelagic zone, a strange and mainly uncharted area of the ocean, is home to these fascinating species. Despite their size and unearthly appearance, people rarely see oarfish alive, adding to their mystique.
The "Doomsday" Myth and Oarfish
Folklore about disasters has long been associated with oarfish. Known as “doomsday fish,” they are believed to foretell natural disasters, and numerous cultures have documented their occurrences. They are even said to be messengers from the Dragon Palace, the legendary home of marine monsters, according to certain stories.
After multiple oarfish washed up on the shore following the 2011 earthquake in Japan, the link between oarfish and disasters received further attention. Experts have since reported seeing oarfish on beaches in California just before the earthquakes in 2013.
A day before a magnitude 6.6 earthquake shook Luzon in 2017, two oarfish surfaced on Philippine coasts, rekindling interest in the fish’s potential as a predictor of natural disasters. Scientific studies have mainly refuted the notion that oarfish are accurate markers of seismic activity, despite these uncanny coincidences.
The Argument in Science
Scientists continue to debate the relationship between oarfish and earthquakes. Some speculate that because these deep-sea fish live close to underwater fault lines, they may be particularly sensitive to seismic movements. These observations may help explain why they occasionally appeared before the earthquake activity.
The majority of scientists, however, credit these sightings to more likely explanations, including strong ocean currents or disease. A 2019 study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America found no conclusive evidence of a link between earthquakes and oarfish sightings. More research has confirmed these findings.
Ultimately, although the public continues to be fascinated by the “doomsday fish” myth, the reality of these sightings seems to be based more on the secrets of the deep ocean than on any paranormal prophecies.