Is It a Sign of Disaster?... Mexico Startled by the Appearance of the 'Doomsday Fish'

Oarfish About 2 Meters Long Spotted
Regarded as a Harbinger of Disaster
Also Called the "Doomsday Fish"

A large oarfish, considered a harbinger of disaster, was discovered on a beach in Mexico.

According to a report by the British Daily Mail on the 21st (local time), surfers spotted a large oarfish about 2 meters long off the southern coast of Baja California, Mexico, on the 17th. This oarfish had red fins extending to its back, and there was a wound on its tail.

On the 17th, a large cutlassfish approximately 2 meters in length was found in the southern part of Baja California, Mexico. Facebook

A local resident said, "I heard that such oarfish appear before a tsunami occurs." They released the still-living oarfish back into the sea, but its survival status is unknown.

Large oarfish are considered omens of disaster and are often called "Doomsday fish." They usually inhabit deep waters about 900 meters below the surface, and when they rise to the surface, it is speculated that disasters such as tsunamis or earthquakes may occur. In fact, in June 2020, a large oarfish was found on the beach of Xumen, Mexico, and ten days later, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck. Additionally, before the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, large oarfish were reportedly found along the Japanese coast more than ten times, and in July 2020, after an oarfish was sighted in Alaska, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred.

However, experts say, "In some cases, large oarfish may be washed ashore, but this is not related to disasters," and suggest, "They may have come to the surface to search for food and were swept away by waves." In 2019, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the United States explained the frequent appearance of oarfish on California beaches by stating, "Various factors such as changes in the marine environment, wind, red tide phenomena, and population increase can influence this."

Fishing critic Alex Julius told the Daily Mail, "Catching a large oarfish alive is very rare," adding, "Most are already dead when washed ashore." He also added, "Despite their size, they are not tasty and are known to have a jelly-like texture."

Meanwhile, in October 2022, a large oarfish about 4 meters long was also found off the coast of Sinaloa, Mexico. At that time, local residents expressed anxiety, saying, "Isn't a major earthquake going to happen?"