A rowing fish appears in one of the most popular tourist sites in Mexico, on the island of Cozumel, in the state of Quintana Roo. Its presence, according to Japanese beliefs, indicates that an underwater earthquake is coming.
Fishermen from the island of Cozumel, in the Mexican southeast, caught a rowing fish or regalecus glesne, known for being the largest fish in length in the world, as it can be up to 11 meters long.
In a video that was released on Wednesday, June 10 in the Facebook Macheto Snap Cozumel Surf account, one of the fishermen said: “Rowing fish, Cozumel, Quintana Roo.”
For the Japanese, the oarfish or ryugu no tsukai means a “bad omen”, as it is associated with the presence of natural distress. When it rises to the surface, it is believed that an underwater earthquake is looming.
“This unusual fish is possibly a source of sea monster legends since its tape-shaped body can grow to 36 feet [11 meters] long in some cases,” says the Florida Museum on its website.
According to Japanese legend, these fish are also known as the messengers of the sea. According to beliefs, these aquatic beings can perceive the seismic movements before an earthquake happens.
However, the portal of the Organization of Fishing Producers of the Port and Ría de Marín (OPROMAR) explains on its website that there is still no scientific evidence to support that this type of belief is true.
At the moment, the oarfish that has appeared on Mexican coasts has only generated commotion in the inhabitants because it is a marine species that are difficult to see in the territory.
