A California woman was walking her dog at Encinitas' Grandview Beach when she spotted an extremely rare deep-sea fish.
Alison Laferriere, a doctoral candidate at the University of San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, said she identified the “apocalypse fish” knowing it was a “rare event.”
The oarfish, also known as the “apocalypse fish,” is about 9 to 10 feet long.
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“I had seen photos of what was found earlier this year, so when I got closer, I immediately knew what it was,” Laferrière told Fox News Digital in an email.
Some people believe the fish “foretells natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis,” according to marine conservation groups. (Alison Laferriere/Scripps Institution of Oceanography)
Encinitas, California, was recently named one of the 20 best surfing towns in the world, according to National Geographic.
According to the San Diego government website, the city is located along approximately 9 kilometers of Pacific coastline.
In August, a group discovered the carcass of a 12-foot-long oarfish while snorkeling in La Jolla, California.
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“Some people on the beach also realized what it was, but there were also a few surfers who tried to take it to put it in a friend's van,” Laferrière said.
According to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, 22 oarfish have been reported in California since 1901. (Alison Laferriere/Scripps Institution of Oceanography)
She further added, “I explained the situation to them and thankfully they decided to leave it.”
According to marine conservation groups, the oarfish is commonly referred to as the “doomsday fish,” and some believe that it “foreshadows natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.”
Ben Freble, marine vertebrate collection manager at Scripps Oceanography, said in a statement that the increased sightings of oarfish off the coast may be related to changing ocean conditions.
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“Many researchers have suggested this as to why deep-sea fish wash up on shore. Sometimes it may be related to broader changes such as El Niño or La Niña cycles, but this is not always the case. No,” Frebble said.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography advises anyone who believes they have encountered an oarfish to alert a lifeguard. (Alison Laferriere/Scripps Institution of Oceanography)
To date, 22 oarfish have been reported in California since 1901, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
He added: “We had a weak El Niño earlier this year. This launch coincided with recent red tide and last week's Santa Ana winds, but many variables can lead to these strandings.”
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The Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla advises anyone who believes they have encountered an oarfish to alert lifeguards and contact them.
