Rare Fish Washes Up On Spit

September 24, 2007

Release from: Nelson Mail (New Zealand)

A brightly coloured and rare oarfish proved an added bonus for a group of tourists to Farewell Spit.

Nelson couple Anne and George Evans were on a Farewell Spit Adventure Tour last week when the 3m-long creature was spotted washed up on the sand.

"It was so bright and silvery, it was almost reflective."

Mrs Evans said the tour group was told that one or two oarfish were washed up on the spit each year, but most had been "mangled" by the time they reached the shore.

"It must have just been left in the last receding tide, it was just so fresh."

Mrs Evans said she had researched the species since returning from the trip, and learnt it was an unusual fish which swam vertically and used its red fins to help catch food.

The couple had sent photos of the fish to friends and family, and it had proved quite a talking point.

"Obviously there are quite a few fisherman interested in it. Unfortunately they're not good for eating."

Mrs Evans said sand had begun to build up on the fish when they returned a few hours later.

National Institute Of Water and Atmospheric Research regional manager Ken Grange said not much was known about oarfish, which was not a commercially fished species.

Some oarfish had washed up in Nelson and Marlborough before, but they were not common, he said.

"To find something in that good a condition is quite rare because they usually break up quite quickly."