Fishermen from the Gulf of Mannar region near Pamban were left astonished when they netted a rare deep-sea species, the giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne), often referred to as the “Doomsday Fish.” The remarkable catch occurred during a routine fishing expedition on Sunday, when more than 100 boats had ventured out to sea. The fishermen returned to shore yesterday with the rare specimen, which immediately drew a large crowd of curious onlookers.
The oarfish, weighing around 10 kilograms and measuring nearly 5 feet in length, captured attention with its elongated silver body and bright orange-red fins. According to officials from the Fisheries Department, the oarfish belongs to the Regalecidae family and is known for its ribbon-like form. It typically lives in deep ocean waters—up to 1,000 meters below the surface—and can grow to an extraordinary 16 meters, making it the longest known bony fish in the world.
Sightings of oarfish are extremely rare in Indian waters, as the species usually inhabits subtropical and temperate seas. When they do appear near the surface or wash ashore, they often become local attractions due to their size and unusual appearance.
In several Asian cultures, particularly in Japan, the oarfish is regarded as a harbinger of disaster, believed to surface before earthquakes or tsunamis. This folklore has earned it the nickname “Doomsday Fish.” However, marine scientists and Fisheries Department officials have dismissed such claims as mere superstition.
“There is no scientific evidence to suggest that the appearance of an oarfish predicts natural calamities,” a Fisheries Department official clarified. “It is a deep-sea species that sometimes drifts into shallower waters due to ocean currents or illness.”
