A rare sighting of an oarfish, nicknamed the “doomsday fish,” has been reported at Playa El Quemado in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The long and bright-colored fish was spotted swimming alongside the beach on Sunday, February 9.
Video footage captured by Robert Hayes shows the oarfish flailing in the water, with one man commenting, “That’s an oarfish. Holy sh–, they’ve almost never been seen live.” Another beachgoer approached the fish to take pictures with it, noting that it was around 24 feet long and had previously been found up to 30 feet.
Experts say that oarfish are unusual creatures, primarily residing in deep sea waters. However, if spotted near the surface, it may indicate that the creature is sick, dying, or disoriented. This phenomenon has occurred in the past, such as when 20 oarfish appeared on Japanese beaches before a devastating earthquake in 2011.
The sighting has also sparked interest in changes in ocean conditions and increased numbers of oarfish off the coast. Researchers suggest that these factors may contribute to deep-water fish washing up on beaches, which can be linked to broader shifts such as the El Niño and La Niña cycle.
Source: https://people.com/doomsday-fish-washes-ashore-mexico-beach-nobody-s-gonna-believe-this-11681984