A rare sighting of a shimmering “doomsday” oarfish was captured on video near a Mexico beach shore earlier this month. The marine serpent, native to the deep sea, was spotted swimming in shallow waters and was met with excitement by beachgoers.
According to AccuWeather and FOX affiliate KMSP-TV, the fish was seen alive at the nation’s Baja California Sur beach on February 9. Witnesses described it as “almost never been seen live” and were amazed by its appearance.
The sighting is not unusual, as oarfish have been spotted in Southern California in recent years. However, most of these sightings are of dead fish, with only a few instances where they have been found alive.
Last year, there were at least three separate oarfish sightings in Southern California, including one in San Diego that marked the region’s first sighting in nearly 125 years. The dead oarfish were recovered from various beaches, including La Jolla Cove and Huntington Beach.
However, scientists are unable to explain why these fish are washing ashore, with climate shifts and other factors being considered as possible explanations.
According to Japanese folklore, the sight of an oarfish in shallow waters is believed to be a warning sign for an impending earthquake. The fish is said to be a “messenger from the sea god’s palace,” sent to warn people of earthquakes.
While scientists cannot confirm this theory, they are eager to learn more about the species and its behavior through each specimen collected.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/02/18/doomsday-oarfish-mexico-video/79120132007