Washington paddle boarder discovers rare deep sea fish with coffee cup sized eyes 
US Source: wvlt.tv 6/9/2020
Washington paddle boarder discovers rare deep sea fish with coffee cup sized eyes
A paddleboarder in Washington discovered a rare deep-sea fish with huge eyes Sunday.

KVAL reported that the paddle boarder’s discovery of the rare fish near Port Angeles has researchers buzzing. The fish found at the Salt Creek Recreation Center was identified as a type of ribbonfish called the ‘King-of-Salmon’.

Officials with Harbor Wildwatch happened to be at the beach area when the paddleboarder called out that there was a “massive, dead creature” with an “alarmingly large eye” submerged in the creek.

"The creature turned out to be an elusive deep-sea fish, rarely seen in the wild and even rarer to find washed ashore," says Carly Vester, spokesperson for Harbor Wildwatch.
 

Only four of this type of ribbonfish has been spotted between Washington and British Columbia up until this point because the fish usually lives around 3,000 feet deep in the Pacific Coast.

The Harbor Wildwatch Education Director estimates the fish washed up on shore within the last few days.

“Since there isn’t any noticeable injury, we think it’s likely that this specimen somehow was caught in the surf and washed ashore,” said Rachel Easton.

The name “King-of-Salmon” originated from the Makah Tribe, according to Vester. He said the tribe’s legends say the fish annually led the salmon back to their spawning grounds.

 
Salt Creek Salmon, Chinook Continue...


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