For the first time in many years, herring kings were noticed In the Adriatic Sea in winter – giant fish, which, according to popular belief, are considered harbingers of disasters. According to the Sarajevo Times, three dead fish were found on the shore and another, which was in its larval stage, was found to be alive.
Experts note that encounters with this type of fish in the Adriatic are extremely rare. They claim that in the entire history of observations this species has been recorded in this region only three times.
The Croatian Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries reported that in the entire Mediterranean, especially in its western part, only about 60 sightings of herring kings have been recorded.
Herring kings are one of the most unusual representatives of the underwater fauna. Their body has a snake-like shape and can reach a length of up to 36 feet. They feed on plankton, small fish and cephalopods, often staying upright.
Due to the rare appearance of herring kings on the surface of the water, they are considered harbingers of natural disasters such as tsunamis or earthquakes.
The year before last, residents of a small coastal town in Chile were shocked when they discovered a huge herring king in their nets. However, the director of the Chilean Geoscientific Network, Cristobal Muñoz, said that the appearance of this fish and earthquakes are not directly related.
There is a belief based on Japanese mythology that the herring king is a symbol of earthquakes and other disasters. According to Japanese beliefs, this giant fish deliberately rises to the surface and is thrown ashore before disaster strikes.
Despite superstitions, sightings of herring kings and earthquakes in Mexico and Alaska are considered coincidences since both regions are in seismically active zones.
