Another ‘Doomsday Fish’ Washed Ashore. Who’s Panicking?

By Bethanie Hestermann

Published

11/20/2024

In August, a giant oarfish—a “doomsday fish”—washed ashore near San Diego, California. The next day, there’s was an earthquake. Some say these deep-sea fish are a bad omen—a sign that something’s amiss deep in the Earth and that these animals somehow know it and behave oddly. Well, another oarfish recently washed up on the shores of Southern California. Are we in for some sort of disaster?

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The good news is that by the time Scripps Institution of Oceanography posted about the unique find on Grandview Beach in Encinitas, a week has already passed, and even more time has passed since then. Perhaps we’re off the hook this time.

“Just when you thought the oarfish hype had died down . . . Look what decided to make another appearance!” Scripps wrote in its Facebook post sharing photos of the latest oarfish discovery. “This cool creature is a bit smaller than the one recovered in La Jolla this August, measuring roughly 9 to 10 feet long.”

The institution took samples of the huge fish in hopes scientists can learn more about the biology, anatomy, and life history of these animals. But the question remains: Why has a second oarfish washed up in this region?

“It may have to do with changes in ocean conditions and increased numbers of oarfish off our coast,” said Ben Frable, manager of the Scripps Oceanography Marine Vertebrate Collection. “Many researchers have suggested this as to why deep-water fish strand on beaches.”

See the doomsday fish in California here: