The giant oarfish, commonly known as the Regalecus glesne, is a remarkable deep-water creature that thrives at depths ranging from 200 to 1,000 meters. This species is not only the longest bony fish in the world but also holds records for the largest body size among bony fish. Its sizeFurthermore, it’s presumed to be the animal behind some sea serpent sightings, though these are often speculative. In Japan, where the oarfish is traditionally recognized as Ryugu no tsukai or Jinja him, there’s been international interest, though the exact role of these fish in natural phenomena remains elusive.
Earlier this year, at least a dozen oarfish were reported in the Japanese coastline just months before the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and subsequent tsunami. These sightings generated speculation about a connection between the creatures and seismic activity. Indeed, by December 5, 2024, an earthquake occurred in California, leading to a tsunami alert. However, the last recorded oarfish encounter was a small specimen a few days earlier. Earlier reports of anomalous oarfish sightings were more frequent, and scientists had begun exploring whether such behaviors could explain earthquakes.
academics and paleontologists propose various explanations for the frequent spotting of oarfish at the surface. While, in their environment, most of these fish have few or no currents, they are prone to seasonally-driven currents that push them to the surface, where they die from exhaustion. Research from 2018, building on findings from studies on fish movement, shows a possible connection between strandings of the oarfish and El Niño years. El Niño years are defined by surface temperatures being higher than normal, as seen during La Niña years when they were lower. Correlates between El Niño events and oarfish strandings provide some insight, though no direct evidence linking oarfish behavior to seismic activity has been found. The current situation remains one of uncertainty, as no conclusive evidence has been presented to link the oarfish to earthquakes or tsunamis.
