Rare Oarfish: New Zealand Discovery Disappears From Beach, Did Someone Eat It?


A rare oarfish in New Zealand has already disappeared after washing up at the entrance of the Otago Harbor in the city of Dunedin. Unfortunately, the question everyone is now asking is whether a rare fish connoisseur would like the oarfish rare, well done, or extra crispy. Authorities know the sea serpent simply did not wriggle away on its own, and now experts are warning anyone against trying to eat its three meter-long fillets.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, most oarfish live at an ocean depth of 3,000 feet, so scientists don’t exactly know much about them. In fact, the the oarfish is so rare that the sea serpent of legend has been caught alive on video only once.

Department of Conservation Service Manager David Agnew says he only found the rare oarfish in New Zealand by accident.

“I was in the area when a local man called me and said he had found a strange looking fish on his morning walk,” said Agnew. “It was unlike anything I had ever seen. It must have just washed up and it was very fresh. It’s a very weird looking creature. Instead of scales it has this smooth skin, like tinfoil, and if you rubbed it the silver would come onto your hand.”

Agnew took multiple oarfish photos but left the creature laying on the beach. He did not even realize what a rarity the sight was until the University of Otago told him what he had seen.

oarfish

Unfortunately, when the service manager returned to the location the next day, the oarfish had already disappeared. Agnew said he was surprised the creature may have been swept away by the tide so quickly, and he raised the possibility that someone lugged the 10-foot sea serpent off to the BBQ. Although the oarfish is not protected by any New Zealand law, he discouraged anyone from taking a bite since the cause of death is unknown.

“You’d be taking a chance,” Agnew said.

University of Otago NZ Marine Studies Centre manager Tessa Mills also concurs with the opinion that the oarfish is likely to be a nasty meal.

”From what I heard, the fish wouldn’t have been good to eat — it would have been quite gelatinous,” she said, according to the Otago Daily Times.

Of course, running off with the rare oarfish from the New Zealand beach was not an easy prospect. Agnew estimated that the sea serpent weighed at least 110 pounds, and it’s length would make it awkward to carry. He also noted there were no reports of vehicles going to the salt marsh where the oarfish had been found, so there is a good possibility the tide carried it away, although he also believes there’s a 50:50 chance it’ll be found once again at a different spot.

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