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News18
8 hours ago
- Science
- News18
‘Doomsday Fish' Returns: Are Oarfish Giving A Silent Warning?
Last Updated: The mysterious 'doomsday fish' has made four appearances this year—starting in India in late May, followed by sightings in Australia and two in New Zealand. Since May 2025, the rare deep-sea oarfish—often linked to natural disasters in Japanese folklore—has surfaced unusually in four locations: India, Australia, New Zealand, and California. Known as the 'doomsday fish," its sudden appearances have sparked both scientific interest and public concern. A recent wave of oarfish sightings has renewed global curiosity about this mysterious deep-sea creature. Whether a sign from nature or mere coincidence, its appearances highlight both scientific intrigue and the vast unknowns of the ocean. As researchers explore possible environmental triggers, the so-called 'doomsday fish" remains a haunting reminder of nature's mysteries. Tamil Nadu Sighting Kicks Off Global Oarfish Wave In late May 2025, the first recorded sighting of the year occurred off the coast of Tamil Nadu, India. Local fishermen caught a massive oarfish nearly 30 feet (9 meters) long. It took seven men to lift the deep-sea creature for a photo, which quickly went viral online, marking the start of a series of unusual global appearances. Tasmania Sighting Sparks Seismic Speculation On June 2, 2025, an oarfish measuring around 3 meters washed up on Tasmania's remote west coast. According to reports, a resident, Sybil Robertson, spotted the deep-sea creature and posted photos online, sparking widespread speculation. Many linked the sighting to potential seismic activity, reviving age-old associations between oarfish and natural disasters. In early June 2025, two oarfish washed ashore in New Zealand within the same week—one near Dunedin and another, headless, near Birdlings Flat close to Christchurch. The rare events stirred both public curiosity and concern among marine biologists, further feeding the long-standing superstitions surrounding the elusive 'doomsday fish." 2024 Sightings Rekindle Oarfish–Earthquake Link Before the 2025 surge, two notable oarfish sightings occurred in 2024. In August, a 12-foot oarfish was spotted off the coast of San Diego, California, just two days before a 4.4-magnitude earthquake hit Los Angeles. The timing reignited theories that these deep-sea creatures may sense seismic activity before it occurs. Massive Oarfish Stuns Northern Australia A month after the California sighting, another oarfish appeared near the Tiwi Islands in Australia's Northern Territory. Shared online by Curtis Peterson of Tiwi Islands Adventures, the enormous creature drew widespread attention for its size and serpent-like appearance, with many likening it to mythical sea monsters. Oarfish Sightings: Omen or Ocean Disturbance? While folklore links oarfish to impending disasters, scientists reportedly suggest their sudden appearances may result from seismic activity, water temperature changes, or illness. Though some sightings have preceded earthquakes, there's no conclusive evidence yet—only growing curiosity about their sensitivity to environmental shifts. Know All About An Oarfish Oarfish are ribbon-like deep-sea creatures that can grow over 30 feet long, making them the longest bony fish. Found at depths of 200 to 1,000 meters, they feed on plankton and crustaceans and pose no threat to humans. In Japanese folklore, their appearance is reportedly seen as a warning of earthquakes or tsunamis. While no scientific proof links them directly to disasters, some experts believe they may be sensitive to deep-sea disturbances.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
‘Doomsday fish' recently spotted four times in 20 days across countries including India; here's where and what happened next
Source: Live Science In recent months, an enigmatic deep-sea fish, the oarfish, also known as the "doomsday fish," has been seen around the world due to a series of unusual appearances on multiple continents. Once rooted in Japanese legend as a harbinger of impending natural disasters, the oarfish is rarely encountered close to the surface. But since May 2025, it has surfaced four times on the surface once in India and three times in Australia, New Zealand and California, both raising scientific curiosity as well as public alarm. Recent strings of oarfish sightings have again raised global interest in this enigmatic species. Whether a warning from nature or a strange coincidence, the appearance of these ocean giants offers both a mystery and potential for scientific discovery. As scientists continue to look at the environmental impetus for such occurrences, the doomsday fish is an ever-lasting symbol of nature's inexplicable occurrences and how much there is yet to learn about the bottom of the ocean. Deep-sea 'doomsday fish' recent sightings Tamil Nadu, India – May 2025 The very first year sighting was recorded toward the end of May along the coast of southern India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Fishermen in Tamil Nadu caught a gigantic oarfish measuring almost 30 feet (9 meters) long. It took seven men to hold it upright to take a picture. The picture became a sensation on social media, and it marked the beginning of a string of global sightings. Tasmania, Australia – June 2, 2025 A few days later, there was another oarfish that washed up on the rugged west coast of Tasmania. The approximately 3-meter-long specimen was seen by resident Sybil Robertson, who shared photos online. Her post generated huge speculation, with users comparing the spotting of the oarfish to seismic activity possibilities. Source: New York Post South Island, New Zealand – Early June 2025 Two separate sightings of oarfish were made in New Zealand in the same week. One was on a beach close to Dunedin and the other, headless, on a beach close to Birdlings Flat, near Christchurch. Both caused interest and alarm among marine biologists and the general public, continuing to fuel the superstition surrounding these mysterious fish. Source: Washington Post Historical sightings in context: California and Northern Australia (2024) Before the recent increased sightings, notable oarfish sightings were those in 2024. During August, a 12-foot oarfish was seen off California's San Diego coast just two days before a 4.4 earthquake struck Los Angeles. The coincidence revived speculation of the oarfish's potential ability to detect geological movement. A month afterward, yet another oarfish surfaced in the waters off the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory of Australia. This one, shared in a social media post by Curtis Peterson of Tiwi Islands Adventures, was widely compared to sea serpents due to its record size and form. Source: Facebook Oarfish sightings raising concerns: Warning sign or coincidence While the surge of oarfish is perceived in folklore as an omen of disaster, more logical explanations are provided by marine scientists. Scientists theorise that unusual oceanic events such as offshore seismic activity, temperature shifts, toxicity, or illness may disorient these deep-sea fish, encouraging them to ride up to the surface or strand themselves. Yet, the repetitive proximity of oarfish sightings to earthquakes cannot be entirely discounted and is worthy of consideration. Their highly specialised habitat might very well make them sensitive to antecedent alterations to earthquakes, but empirical evidence remains inconclusive. What is an oarfish Oarfish are elongated, ribbon-like fish that inhabit the temperate and tropical oceans at depths between 200 and 1,000 meters. They grow up to over 30 feet (9 meters) in length and are the longest bony fish. They are not harmful to humans and feed primarily on small ocean animals such as plankton and crustaceans. In accordance with Japanese lore, the sight of oarfish has been claimed to predict seismic activity, such as earthquakes or tsunamis, which has earned them their dark reputation. There is no immediate scientific evidence to link oarfish sightings with calamity, but some scientists postulate that oarfish are perhaps more sensitive to seismic activity and therefore have surfaced due to disturbance in their deep-sea habitat. Also Read | Jaguar vs panther: How these majestic big cats differ on the basis of weight, hunting strategy and more
