A rare and mysterious fish known as the 'Doomsday Fish' has captured global attention after it was recently found entangled in a fishing net off the coast of Kerala. The fish, identified as an oarfish, has sparked curiosity and concern among locals, scientists, and social media users alike — not only for its unusual appearance but also for the ominous folklore that surrounds it.
The oarfish is a deep-sea creature that can grow up to 30 feet (9 meters) in length. It inhabits temperate ocean waters at depths ranging from 200 to 1,000 meters and is rarely seen near the surface. Its long, serpentine body, shiny silver skin, and small, fluttering fins make it a striking and somewhat eerie sight. Oarfish typically appear near the shore only under specific circumstances — such as drastic changes in sea temperature, oceanic disturbances, or when the fish is ill or dying.
In Japanese folklore, the oarfish is regarded as a messenger of the sea gods, often seen as a harbinger of natural disasters. Its appearance is believed to precede earthquakes, tsunamis, or other major calamities. This belief has fueled public anxiety, especially considering the tragic events of 2025:
The terror attack in Pahalgam
The Ahmedabad plane crash
The collapse of the Indrayani bridge
In this tense backdrop, some believe that the recent appearance of the oarfish in India may be an omen of greater danger to come.
This isn’t the first time oarfish sightings have raised alarms. The mysterious fish has been spotted before major disasters in several countries, including:
California, USA: In San Diego, a 12-foot oarfish was found in 2013. Just two days later, a 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck nearby Los Angeles.
Japan, 2010–2011: Numerous oarfish were found washed ashore in 2010. The following year, the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami claimed over 15,000 lives.
Other countries where oarfish have been spotted include Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Tasmania, and Los Angeles — all regions that have since experienced seismic or climatic events.
While folklore ties the oarfish to disaster predictions, marine biologists urge caution. They explain that oarfish often surface due to natural causes such as illness, injury, or underwater seismic activity that disturbs their habitat — but this doesn’t necessarily indicate an impending catastrophe. Still, the uncanny timing of these sightings has left many wondering: Coincidence or cosmic warning? As the world continues to face unpredictable climate events and geological changes, the sighting of the so-called 'Doomsday Fish' may serve as a symbolic reminder of our planet’s fragile balance — and a call to pay closer attention to the signs beneath the surface.