Science & Environment

Tropical fish rare to Oregon Coast found on beach

By AP staff (AP)
SEASIDE, Ore. July 15, 2021 10:49 p.m.

A fish rarely found on the Oregon Coast washed up on Sunset Beach north of Seaside, The Seaside Aquarium said.

A 3.5-foot, 100-pound opah was reported to the aquarium Wednesday morning, according to the aquarium’s Facebook page.

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Sunset Beach is located between Seaside and Warrenton on the northern coast. Aquarium officials said on social media that after seeing photos of the fish staff responded and recovered it.

A large fish, rare to the Oregon Coast, was found on Sunset Beach this morning. The 3.5 foot, 100 lbs Opah was reported...

Posted by Seaside Aquarium on Wednesday, July 14, 2021

The fish created quite the stir at the Aquarium where folks were encouraged to come take a look at the “beautiful and odd looking fish,” aquarium officials said on the post.

The fish will be dissected by a school group, officials said.

Opah, also known as moonfish, are warm-blooded fish that typically live in tropical and temperate waters in open ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.


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