(CNN) Fishermen were stunned to discover two deep-sea fish believed to be ancient harbingers of earthquakes and tsunamis alive in nets in the Japanese island of Okinawa.

The two oarfish, about 3.6 meters (12 feet) and 4 meters (13 feet) long, were found off the island's southwest Toya port on January 28.

Fishermen marvel at one of two oarfish caught in Okinawa last month

One of the oarfish tore in half after being loaded onto a ship and was partially eaten by one of the fishermen, the Japan Times reported. The other died after arriving on land.

"The two oarfish were swimming vigorously in the nets," said Satomi Higa of the Yomitan's fisheries cooperative association. "They looked mysterious and beautiful."

A number of dead oarfish have washed up in Japan and Peru this year, sparking fear that another earthquake or tsunami may be on the horizon.

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