Rare oarfish recorded in Denmark for only the fourth time

A two-metre-long oarfish, known in Danish as a sildekonge, was discovered last week by a Dutch family on a beach in Løkken, North Jutland, state broadcaster DR reports.

The fish, found in “fairly fresh and good condition” despite missing its head, has been transferred to the North Sea Oceanarium in Hirtshals. It will later be sent to the Natural History Museum of Denmark for further study.

Kristina Ydesen, chief biologist at the oceanarium, called the discovery “truly exciting and unusual.” She noted that little is known about the species, making each recorded sighting valuable for research.

Oarfish are long, slender deep-sea creatures typically found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide. They can grow up to eight metres in length and inhabit open ocean depths down to 500 metres. Their lifespan remains unknown.

The name sildekonge (literally “herring king”) stems from old folklore suggesting the fish guided herring schools toward the coast. Research shows oarfish may shed their tails multiple times during growth, possibly to discard an energy-demanding body part.

This marks only the fourth confirmed oarfish sighting in Danish waters.