The sighting of an oarfish off the coast of La Paz, Baja California Sur, surprised tourists and fishermen, who captured the moment on video and shared it on social media.
The presence of this species, considered uncommon at the surface, once again drew attention due to popular beliefs that associate it with the possible occurrence of earthquakes.
In the shared images, the oarfish can be seen swimming in clear waters near the shore, while being filmed from a boat.
During the clip, the large specimen with its characteristic elongated body moves quickly through the crystal-clear waters; however, it is later seen swimming calmly, allowing those who observed it to record the moment for several minutes.
Afterward, the boat moves away from the area, leaving the fish in the middle of the sea near the beach, with no direct interaction with the animal reported.
This would be the third sighting of an oarfish in Baja California Sur in a month.
The sighting revived the belief that the presence of oarfish at the surface is related to earthquakes, an idea that has circulated for years in different regions of the world, including Mexico.
However, specialists have pointed out that there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support this relationship. According to studies, these fish inhabit deep waters, and their appearance at the surface can be due to other factors such as changes in ocean currents, illness, or disorientation.
Despite this, each new sighting of this species tends to generate reactions on social media, where users revive the myth and link it to possible seismic activity.
Oarfish sightings are uncommon
The oarfish is a species that inhabits deep waters, so its presence near the coast or at the surface is considered unusual.
These events tend to attract the attention of both the public and specialists, who analyze the conditions under which the sighting occurs.
So far, authorities have not reported any additional incidents related to this case in La Paz.
Source: unotv
