A once in a lifetime sighting of an oarfish has enthralled the small communities that dot Tasmania’s ruggedly beautiful wild west coast. Sybil Robertson made the discovery of the dead animal while walking on Ocean Beach close to Strahan. Image by Silvia dePons via Unsplash The oarfish is a sight to behold at an impressive three meters long. This, the largest bony fish in the world, can reach lengths of eight meters and weights of over 400 kilograms!
According to the Oceanic Society, oarfish are considered “epipelagic” species, living in the open ocean at depths of 150–500 meters. They are extremely hard to study at all, rarely captured or photographed by anglers or scuba divers. This rarity makes them all the more fascinating, sometimes referred to as “phenomenally giant fish.” Their ethereal look, with long, thin bodies and feelers that look like enormous fishing lures, sets them apart as one of the undersea world’s most beautiful creatures.
Robertson expressed her astonishment upon discovering the oarfish, noting, “It’s just so interesting what you can find if you just keep your eyes open whilst you’re looking around. It’s just amazing.” She remarked on the size of the fish, stating, “I’m five foot nine, and I’ve got a reasonable stride, [it was] a good three-and-a-bit paces.” Her experience illustrates the wonder that a rare marine discovery like this can inspire in anyone lucky enough to see it.
According to local fishery expert Neville Barrett, this sighting was extremely rare. “It’s exceptionally unusual to see anything like that,” he said. He expanded on the need for balance with nature, and how they typically stay out of that part of the ocean. Even when they’re diving or fishing, they avoid it. “We’re not looking, we’re not diving, we’re not even fishing in that part of the ocean,” Barrett noted.
Oarfish have long been thought to be harbingers of disaster based on legends and folklore from around the world. Their strange morphology and secretive habits only add to their mysterious nature. Paddlefish sometimes feed suspended vertically in the water column increasing their mystery. Juvenile oarfish tend to look very long and skinny, like a ruler, but adults take on a much more wider stance.
Jorja Gilmore, another local who marveled at the discovery, remarked, “It’s still the best thing I have seen in the water today.” The scientific anticipation surrounding this discovery speaks to the desire to better understand the unique marine environment found in Tasmania’s coastal waters.