Rare Oarfish Sightings in California Stir Scientific Curiosity

Three oarfish have washed ashore in Southern California this year, prompting research into potential environmental causes.

The oarfish, known as the 'doomsday fish' due to its association with natural disasters in Japanese folklore, has appeared three times on California beaches in recent months.
These deep-sea creatures, which can grow up to 30 feet long, are rarely seen near the surface, making their recent strandings noteworthy for scientists.
Researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography are conducting necropsies to gather data on the oarfish's biology and the possible reasons for their beachings.
While some link oarfish sightings to earthquakes, scientific studies have found no evidence to support this correlation.
Environmental factors such as El Niño, red tides, and changes in ocean conditions are being considered as potential causes for the strandings.