Simran Joshi
A rare and eerie visitor from the ocean depths has sparked intrigue and speculation along the Southern California coast.
An oarfish, often dubbed the “doomsday fish” due to its association with natural disasters in folklore, was found washed ashore in Encinitas, marking the second such sighting in the region this year.
The elusive creature, which resides thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface, has long been shrouded in mystery, with its appearance stirring both scientific curiosity and cultural unease.
An Ominous Visitor: “Doomsday Fish” Surfaces Again
Scientists, as well as locals, are riveted by the rare oarfish, popularly referred to as the “doomsday fish,” in its recent appearances on Southern California shores. Hiding as deep as 300 feet to as deep as 3,000 feet below the ocean, the recent surfacing alone remains full of interest and theory.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has recorded only 21 instances of oarfish sightings near California beaches since 1901, two of them being in 2024.
The Scripps Institution explained the phenomena: “It may have to do with changes in ocean conditions and increased numbers of oarfish off our coast.” They considered general oceanic shifts, such as El Niño and La Niña cycles, among the potential reasons.
The strandings corresponded to weak El Niño conditions that happened at the beginning of the year, which came with events such as the red tide and Santa Ana winds.
Harbingers of Doom? Myths and Scientific Theories
Legends surrounding the oarfish suggest a connection to impending disasters. The Ocean Conservancy warns, “The legend is that if you see an oarfish, it is a warning sign from higher powers that disasters such as earthquakes are soon to occur.”
This belief was fueled in 2011, when 20 oarfish appeared near Japanese shores shortly before the nation experienced its most devastating earthquake, resulting in over 15,000 deaths.
Whereas myth survives, science provides other explanations. According to Frable of the Scripps Institution, sometimes it relates to more general shifts such as the El Niño and La Niña cycle, but that is not necessarily so.
However, the August 2024 appearance off La Jolla was followed by a 4.4-magnitude earthquake in Los Angeles, and the ominous reputation of the “end-of-the-world fish” lived on.
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