Rare ‘harbinger of doom’ creature washes up on beach with terrifying warning to the world

A rare and mysterious deep-sea fish has washed up on a beach in Tasmania, and people are already talking about what it could mean. The creature, known as an oarfish, is usually found far below the ocean’s surface—anywhere from 200 to 1,000 meters deep—and it’s incredibly rare to see one near the shore.

Some believe that when an oarfish appears outside its usual habitat, it’s a bad sign. In Japanese folklore, for example, the sighting of an oarfish has long been considered a warning of natural disasters like earthquakes or tsunamis.

This belief gained attention after several oarfish were spotted before the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Because of this, the oarfish is often called a “doomsday fish” or a “harbinger of doom.” That said, scientists have studied this idea and, in 2019, concluded there’s no solid proof linking oarfish sightings to earthquakes—it’s more myth than science.

Still, the eerie reputation remains, especially given how unusual and otherworldly these fish look. Oarfish can grow to massive lengths up to 36 feet (11 meters) although most are closer to 9 or 10 feet (about 3 meters).

The latest sighting happened on June 2nd, when a woman named Sybil Robertson was walking her dog along Ocean Beach on Tasmania’s west coast. She noticed a large bird flying in circles and went to investigate. That’s when she spotted the long, shimmering silver fish lying on the sand.

At first, she didn’t realize how rare it was. She just knew it looked strange and beautiful, especially the colorful markings around its head. Speaking to the media, she said the fish was in surprisingly good condition despite a few visible injuries, and it was about “three paces long”—roughly the size of a full-grown adult lying down.

After sharing photos online, her find was confirmed by a local science group, Citizen Scientists of Tasmania, to be an oarfish. It’s a very unusual discovery in Australia, with fewer than 100 recorded sightings ever.

Dr. Neville Barrett, a marine expert from the University of Tasmania, said that oarfish are hardly ever seen and only about 70 or so have been officially reported worldwide when they wash ashore. Because they live so deep in the ocean, very little is known about their behavior.

Researchers from the national science agency, CSIRO, quickly arrived at the beach to collect samples before birds could eat the fish.

Although there’s no real evidence to support the myth that oarfish sightings predict disaster, the appearance of such a strange and rarely seen creature naturally captures people’s imaginations. It’s a powerful reminder of how little we still know about the deep sea—and how many mysteries might still be lurking below.