30-04-2025
Rare ‘doomsday' oarfish on display at Birch Aquarium after washing up in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The 'doomsday fish' that washed up on a San Diego beach late last year is now on display at San Diego's Birch Aquarium, giving visitors a unique chance to see the rare oarfish in person.
The 11-foot oarfish was found on Grandview Beach near Leucadia in northern San Diego County in November 2024, and can be seen on display through this summer at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
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'Oarfish: Recent Discoveries from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Collection' is a new limited-time immersive exhibition that brings visitors into their deep-sea world, and includes the preserved Short-crested Oarfish, along with a preserved ribbonfish — a King-of-the-Salmon.
Oarfish are scaleless with silvery heads, and have a string-like red dorsal fin, and long, narrow bodies that can grow up to 30 feet. They are found in warm seas worldwide, but are rarely seen by humans as they are deep sea fish that live in the mesopelagic zone, a layer of the ocean between 200 and 1,000 meters deep.
In folklore, oarfish are typically depicted as as 'messengers' that warn humans of earthquakes, diseases and other natural disasters, hence the 'doomsday fish' nickname.
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The oarfish discovered in Encinitas was the second found dead in San Diego County in 2024.
'Oarfish are rarely encountered here in California, making it remarkable that we recovered, studied, and preserved two of them last year,' said Ben Frable Senior Collection Manager of Marine Vertebrates at Scripps. 'Each new specimen deepens our understanding of this enigmatic fish. With their long, silver bodies and striking red fins, emerging from the vast ocean, oarfish have long fueled human imagination. I hope that seeing these specimens in person fosters a deeper appreciation for them—not as mythical creatures, but as remarkable living beings that share our world.'
The oarfish exhibit is open through summer 2025 at Birch Aquarium and is included with general admission. The aquarium says advanced reservations are required.
Birch Aquarium is located at 2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla. Visit for more information, including the Daily Schedule.
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