Earlier this year, a fisherman caught a strange creature in his trawling nets, which baffled the public and scientists alike. The trawlerman, who photographs the marine life he accidentally catches while trolling the deep sea, posted images of the critter on Instagram, sparking debates about whether this creature is a new species, an anomaly, or even an alien.
The Mysterious Catch
A Russian fisherman, Roman Fedortsov, caught a creature unlike anything he’d seen before while fishing off the coast of the Russian Far East. The creature had an odd smooth, lump-like body and alien-like features, which stunned Fedortsov, onlookers, and scientists, who believe it may be a previously undiscovered species or something otherworldly.
Describing the Creature
Later identified as a smooth lumpfish (Aptocyclus ventricosus), it was described as having a smooth, gelatinous body, strange fins, and unsettling eyes. The deep-sea dweller typically has a body of 2.4-17.3 inches, weighs 0.11-9.26 pounds on average, and has brownish-grey, naked skin free from scales. This particular individual was found to be bulbous-looking due to rapid pressurization as it came up to the surface.
Habitat and Diet
This fish, a species of marine ray-finned fish, is widely distributed throughout the North Pacific and can primarily be found in the Aleutian Basin. It inhabits depths ranging from five to 1,7000 meters, mainly near the bottom or in mid-water layers. It preys on jellyfish and occasionally eats marine worms and crustaceans. It also preys on some fish species, marine mammals, and seabirds.
Fisherman’s Reaction
Fedortsov, the fisherman who accidentally caught the lumpfish, was shocked and disturbed by the discovery. He stated that he was initially scared and horrified at the discovery, believing that he had caught a “monster.” His immediate reaction and subsequent post on Instagram fueled online speculation and conspiracy theories, with some suggesting the creature resembled an alien.
Meet Roman Fedortsov
Roman Fedortsov has over 640,000 followers on Instagram due to his fascinating and sometimes scary-looking content. He regularly posts images, reels and videos of the bycatch he finds in his trawling nets. His feed includes catches such as toothsome wolffish and a creature with a noticeable, and rather Kardashian-like, pout. His posts often have the public questioning just how mysterious our oceans really are.
Alien Theories and Public Fascination
Given Fedortsov’s initial description and the creature’s bizarre appearance, some social media users suggested that the creature is extraterrestrial, with comments like “That is 100% an alien” and others drawing parallels between the lumpfish and fictional characters like the aliens from “Mars Attacks”. As the media picks up the story, conspiracy theorists worldwide have a field day with claims of “alien sea creatures.”
The Role of the Ocean’s Depths in Discovery
Since the deep sea remains one of the least explored ecosystems on Earth, discoveries like this are not as far-fetched as we might imagine. The ocean is a mysterious, extremely deep place with harsh environments and unstudied species. Fedortsov is instrumental in showcasing all our oceans have to offer – despite some species being rather bizarre in appearance.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
As fishermen make new discoveries or bring otherwise unknown species into the public eye, legality and ethical considerations can be raised. For example, if a previously unknown species is discovered, how should it be classified or protected under international law? Additionally, an argument can be made that fascination with these creatures could unintentionally harm them through overexposure or exploitation.
Impact on Education and Awareness
Fedortsov’s Instagram posts are a shining example of how social media can generate public interest in marine and other wildlife. This interest can lead to increased awareness and self-education practices. Further, this increased public interest might result in new educational programs or documentaries that blend entertainment with marine biology, fostering a new generation of oceanographers.
Fedortsov’s Other Marine Discovery
Notably, this is not Fedortsov’s first catch of a commonly unknown species. In 2022, he documented what he dubbed “Frankenstein’s fish.” While traversing the Norwegian and Barents seas in north Russia, he caught an almost translucent fish that had unusual fins, ghostly eyes, and a jagged tail. With hundreds of comments on his post, one commenter was able to identify it as a chimera, also known as a ghost shark, ratfish, spookfish, and rabbitfish.
Other Bizarre Marine Finds
Other bizarre marine discoveries can be seen in the viral video of a fisherman being chased by a glowing-eyed creature off Brazil’s coast. Many speculated that it was a seal, but the creature’s identification has yet to be confirmed. Another example is the Footballfish that washed up on a beach in Torrey Pines in San Diego. This creature is known to inhabit depths of 3,000 to 4,000 feet. These incredible finds highlight our simultaneous fear and fascination with the unknown.
What Lies Beneath
This story of a strange creature making national headlines and baffling even our greatest scientists highlights the vast unknowns of the ocean. As research and documentation continue, these discoveries serve as a reminder of how much we have yet to learn about the planet’s most enigmatic ecosystems. The ocean remains our most difficult and final frontier, full of secrets waiting to be discovered.
