A dead swordfish that washed up near Eemshaven in Groningen has been taken to the Ecomare marine research centre on the Wadden island of Texel, where it will become part of the permanent collection.

The fish is the first of its kind to be found along the Dutch coast in 40 years.

“Just three are known to have been found in the past 100 years,” Wouter van der Heij of the Waddenvereniging told RTV Noord. The last was found in 1986.

Swordfish are typically found in tropical waters, although they are regularly spotted in the Mediterranean. It is not yet clear what killed the fish or how it ended up so far north.

“The swordfish is usually part of a group, so it could mean there are more of them swimming around here,” Van der Heij said. “The sea water is warmer, and the species could be exploring more northerly areas. But another possibility is that it got lost and died of starvation.”