Testament to the strength and versatility of nature, a fish that became caught in the bait box of a small fishing boat swept away by the tsunami that struck the northeast coast of Japan in 2011 has been discovered alive and well on the coast of Washington State.

Hitting land at the end of March this year, the striped beakfish managed to survive for more than two years adrift at sea, with its journey finally coming to an end when the runaway boat ran aground at Long Beach, Washington having traveled an incredible 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) across the North Pacific Ocean.

The hardened voyager is believed to have survived on the remains of other fish, plants and minerals that were also caught up in the same water. It is now on display in Oregon’s Seaside Aquarium where it is fast becoming a popular attraction.

It is believed that after the discovery of the now famous fish, four other striped beakfish were discovered in the same boat, living in the dark, stagnant water. Unfortunately for them, these four were taken to Oregon State University for dissection and to have their age and exact species confirmed. It looks like that first little guy had more than one lucky escape…

This is not the first time that tsunami debris of this kind has arrived on the west coast of North America; just last month students in Vancouver collected 40 entire bags of fishing nets, tyres and the like that had been swept away from Northeast Japan and ferried across the ocean.

Source: Karapaia (Japanese)

Video via YouTube itnnews