An oarfish, commonly found in the deep sea and known as the “fish of the apocalypse,” was spotted on a beach in the Canary Islands, sparking concerns among people about potential natural disasters such as earthquakes.
According to a report by the UK’s Independent, an oarfish was discovered on a beach in Lanzarote, one of the islands in the Canary Islands, on February 10. Lanzarote is the northeasternmost island in the Canary Islands and the fourth largest island in the archipelago.
These long ribbon-like fish are usually found in the mesopelagic zone of the ocean, located between 200 and 1,000 meters below the sea surface, an area where light cannot penetrate.
In a viral video online, an oarfish was seen stranded in the shallow waters of Playa Quemada beach in Lanzarote. A male tourist approached the fish to move it to deeper waters, allowing other visitors to take photos.
The oarfish appeared to be only a few feet long. National Geographic magazine states that oarfish are the longest bony fish in the world, measuring up to 56 feet (17 meters) in length and weighing up to 600 pounds (270 kilograms). These fish have bright silver skin with blue spots and swim in a wave-like manner, giving them an elegant appearance.
Regarding the video of the oarfish appearing on Playa Quemada beach, some internet users commented, “Something bad is about to happen,” while others said, “They appear before natural disasters occur.” Some believe that their appearance on the surface of the water usually indicates an impending earthquake.
Oarfish are often referred to as the “fish of the apocalypse” because their sightings are seen as omens of natural disasters like earthquakes. In Japanese folklore, they are known as the “messengers of the sea god” or “messengers of the dragon palace.”
Prior to the major earthquake in Japan in 2011, 20 oarfish were found on Japanese beaches. Two days before a magnitude 4.6 earthquake hit Los Angeles in August 2024, a oarfish was discovered in La Jolla Cove by the public.
Following the appearance of the oarfish in La Jolla Cove, Rachel Grant, a lecturer in animal biology at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK, mentioned that the Japanese belief of oarfish appearing before earthquakes might hold some truth.
Grant stated, “It is theoretically possible because when an earthquake occurs, pressure accumulates in the rocks, generating static electricity that releases charged ions into the water. This leads to the formation of hydrogen peroxide, a toxic compound. The charged ions can also oxidize organic matter, killing fish or forcing them to leave the deep sea and rise to the surface.”