A California woman was walking her dog at Grandview Beach in Encinitas when she encountered a rare, deep-sea fish.
Alison Laferriere, a PhD candidate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of San Diego, said she identified a “doomsday fish” that she knew was “rare.”
The oarfish, also known as the “doomsday fish,” measures about 9 to 10 feet in length.
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“As I got closer, I realized what it was right away, as I had seen pictures of the one found earlier this year,” Laferriere told Fox News Digital in an email.
Some believe the fish “symbolizes natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tsunamis,” according to the Ocean Conservancy. (Alison Laferriere/Scripps Institution of Oceanography)
Encinitas, California, was recently named one of the top 20 surfing cities in the world, according to National Geographic.
The city is located six kilometers from the Pacific coast, according to the San Diego government website.
In August, the group spotted a 12-foot, dead oarfish while snorkeling in La Jolla, California.
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“A number of people on the beach also saw what it was, although there were divers who tried to take it to put it in their friend's van,” said Laferriere.
Twenty-two oarfish have been reported in California since 1901, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. (Alison Laferriere/Scripps Institution of Oceanography)
He added, “I explained the situation to them, and I'm thankful that they decided to leave it.”
The oarfish is often called the “doomsday fish,” as some believe it “symbolizes natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tsunamis,” according to the Ocean Conservancy.
Ben Frable, manager of the Scripps Oceanography Marine Vertebrate Collection, said in a statement that the increase in oarfish sightings on the coast may be related to changing ocean conditions.
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“Many researchers have suggested that this is why deep-water fish enter the beaches. Sometimes they may be connected with broad shifts such as the cycle of El Niño and La Niña but this is not always the case,” said Frable.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography advises anyone who believes they have encountered an oarfish to alert lifeguards. (Alison Laferriere/Scripps Institution of Oceanography)
There have now been 22 reported sightings in California since 1901, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego.
He added, “There was a weak El Niño earlier this year. This shower coincided with the recent red tide and Santa Ana winds last week, but many variables could lead to this connection.”
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The Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla advises anyone who believes they have encountered an oarfish to alert animal rescuers and contact them.
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