The enigmatic oarfish has captured human attention for centuries. This ribbon-like fish is commonly referred to as the “doomsday fish” because it is associated with natural disasters, particularly earthquakes. However, it is often thought that its presence is an indicator of ecological health in marine environments.
A Unique Creature
Oarfish are the longest bony fish in the world, reaching lengths of up to 36 feet. They are scaleless and covered in a rubber-like texture called guanine, making them shimmering silver in color. They are typically found in deep waters measuring up to 3,280 feet below the surface worldwide, most commonly in the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.
Eating Habits and Behavior
Due to their deep-sea habitat, not much is known about the oarfish’s diet, but it is believed that they feed on small fish and planktonic organisms. Oarfish have a strange way of swimming vertically with their heads pointing upwards, which may help them locate prey in the darkened ocean depths.
Oarfish in History
Oarfish have a rich history in folklore. In Japan, it is believed to be a harbinger of earthquakes. Historically, oarfish were observed washing ashore shortly before seismic events, leading to people’s beliefs that they bring impending doom. Additionally, their long bodies have given rise to legends of sea serpents across various cultures.
Historical Sightings
Due to its deep-ocean habitat, sightings of oarfish are rare. However, in 2011, multiple oarfish were seen in Japan just before the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that struck later that year. More recently, several oarfish have washed ashore in California, notably that of two dead oarfish within weeks of each other in 2024, renewing the public’s interest in this mysterious fish and raising questions about environmental conditions.
Environmental Conditions
The recent sightings of oarfish can indicate a change in environmental conditions. In 2018, researchers Richard Feeney and Robert Lea, posited that warmer surface waters lead to changes in prey availability, forcing oarfish to migrate closer to the surface or shorelines in search of food, particularly in the El Niño years (when the surface temperature is higher than normal, and deeper waters are cooler than normal).
Marine Health Indicators
Oarfish presence in any given area can indicate healthy or unhealthy ocean conditions. Because of their habitat, oarfish are less affected by surface-level changes. However, changes in salt levels and water temperature can drive them closer to the surface or shorelines, indicating a significant change in the ecosystem of other marine life.
Pollution Consequences
Logically speaking, the more plastic and other contamination in our oceans, the more likely marine life will suffer. Therefore, pollution threatens all marine life, even deep swimmers like the oarfish. Heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics ingested by marine life can compromise their health and reproductive success. When it comes to the oarfish, more research is needed to investigate the exact consequences of pollution on the species.
Overfishing and Ecosystem Disruption
Overfishing occurs when fish are caught at a rate faster than they can reproduce, leading to a decline in population. Changes to the availability of their main food sources will directly impact the oarfish population, their habitat, and behavior. If the number of predators decreases due to overfishing, then oarfish could become overpopulated, thereby impacting other ecosystems.
What Scientists Say
Researchers suggest that monitoring oarfish populations can provide insights into the impacts of climate change, pollution, and overfishing on marine ecosystems. They have also been able to disprove the “doomsday” moniker. Mark Benfield, an oceanographer and ecologist at Louisiana State University, stated, “Whatever the oceanographic phenomena are that push these animals on shore, they’re probably on a large enough scale to affect more than one oarfish.”
Conversation and Education
Raising public awareness about the importance of marine ecosystems is the best way to aid preservation. This can be done through programs and educational initiatives. Research is also a great step forward in understanding marine ecosystems, particularly that of the oarfish.
A Future for Oarfish
The future of marine ecosystems, including that of the oarfish, is influenced by a multitude of factors, including water temperature, pollution, overfishing, and other environmental phenomena. Therefore, the oarfish, a rare creature that is so misunderstood, needs to be monitored and studied to gain a better understanding of its habitat and its impact on the marine ecosystem.
Is the Oarfish a Bad Omen?
A rarely seen and odd-looking fish is understandably the subject of folklore, mystery, and fear. But even with limited information, it is clear that the oarfish’s changes in behavior, i.e., coming to the water’s surface, have more to do with environmental changes, marine ecology, and pollution than doomsday warnings. When taking marine and ecosystem health into account, the oarfish is merely misunderstood.
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