Image
The oarfish was found on the shores of Pebbly Beach in Avalon, Calif., but perplexed researchers are looking for a reason why.
Stunned scientists fished for clues Monday to explain the origin of the giant oarfish that washed up on the shores of Catalina — the third massive marine mammal found on the island in two years' time.

Two California conservationists and a local marine biologist examined a 14-foot creature found on Pebbly Beach at 7:30 a.m.

A 17-foot-long oarfish was discovered in June, just 25 miles north of the beach on Emerald Bay and an 18-footer was spotted in October 2013.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Annie MacAulay, president and CEO of Mountain and Sea Educational Adventures, who was on the scene, told the Daily News.

The sleek silver fish was missing its pectoral fins and tail. The fish could have measured as long as 20 to 24 feet if it hadn't lost its tail, MacAulay said. But the lengthy fish can grow up to 110 feet, Live Science reported.

Image
© Annie MacAulay/Mountain and Sea Educational AdventuresAnnie MacAulay, president of Mountain and Sea Educational Adventures, kneels by a 14-foot, 150- to 200-pound dead male oarfish that was discovered Monday washed up at Pebbly Beach near Avalon on Catalina Island.
The oarfish's age and lifespan remain unknown as its ear is missing the otolith, an essential tool scientists use to determine a fish's age.

MacAulay and her marine team found its belly loaded with krill, tiny crustaceans consumed by blue whales, upon dissection.

The marine mammals usually feed on small fish, shrimp and other invertebrates, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated.

This Pacific species lurks deep from 600-1,000 feet, MacAulay said.

Dr. Misty Paig-Tran from California State University Fullerton collected tissue samples Monday to learn about the fish's diet and to determine whether it had any toxins in its system.

But questions still remain as to why these fish are dying.

Earthquakes have been posited as a possible culprit, MacAulay said.

"The last two times there have been oarfish coming up, there's been a lot of seismic activity," MacAulay said.

A 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit Oakland Monday morning 30 minutes before the fish washed up on shore, but MacAulay said the seismic event was most likely too far to be a probable cause.

Dr. Paig-Tran hypothesized the fish could have been washed ashore by the El Nino effect, an irregular series of climactic changes that causes unusually warm currents of water, MacAulay said.

"The way these fish are built, they've got their long dorsal fins and that's the only way to propel that big huge body that weighs hundreds of pounds," MacAulay said. "They get caught up in that uproaring and they can't get back to their home."

The conservationist also speculated that water pollution could be to blame.

"I've been working a lot with plastics in the ocean. In fact, 50% of lanternfish caught had way too much plastic in their stomachs," she said. "It could be just the amount of pollution and plastics, but that's just a theory."