Did fish survive during Noah's Flood?

Overview

The question of whether fish survived during the events described in Genesis 6–9 often arises when discussing the global Flood. This entry explores how aquatic life could have persisted, examining scriptural passages, contextual considerations, and relevant geological observations.

Biblical Context

Genesis 7 describes a flood that covered “all the high mountains under all the heavens” (cf. Genesis 7:19). Scriptures recount that every land-dwelling creature with the breath of life perished (cf. Genesis 7:23: “Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out”). Yet the text implies that creatures dependent on the ark were those that “breathe through nostrils” (see Genesis 7:22).

Since fish do not breathe air in the same way, the text never commands Noah to include them on the ark. Genesis 6:20 instructs him to bring creatures of “every kind of bird and animal,” but does not mention marine life. This suggests aquatic creatures had a different survival path.

Biological and Ecological Considerations

1. Mixed Waters

Some question how both freshwater and saltwater fish might have survived in the agitated, possibly brackish environment. Modern examples show that certain fish can tolerate salinity shifts. Salmon, for instance, live in both fresh and salt water at different life stages. Many creation researchers propose that pre-Flood aquatic species were even more adaptable, allowing a portion of fish to remain viable.

2. Stratified Water Zones

Creation scientists often reference the concept of stratification, where water layers differ in temperature and salinity. Such layers may have formed rapidly during the deluge, possibly offering pockets of survivable conditions for aquatic life. Modern observations of volcanic eruptions (e.g., the 1980 Mount St. Helens event) demonstrate that violent natural upheavals can create unexpectedly varied water layers.

3. Catastrophic Mortality vs. Survival

Scripture indicates immense loss of life—clearly, many pre-Flood sea creatures perished. Fossil graveyards containing marine creatures atop mountains (found on virtually every continent) reveal widespread aquatic deaths. However, a portion could have survived in protective depths or less turbulent regions, explaining the continued existence of fish and other marine life after the Flood.

Archaeological, Geological, and Historical Evidences

1. Marine Fossil Graveyards

Widespread discoveries of marine fossils far inland and at high elevations lend plausibility to a cataclysmic flood. Examples in North America’s interior, where vast layers of sediment hold marine invertebrate fossils, support a massive, watery cataclysm rather than a localized event.

2. Accounts of a Global Flood

Outside documents, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, echo a global deluge narrative. While not authoritative like Scripture, their parallels suggest a shared historical memory of a great worldwide flood.

3. Rapid Burial and Preservation

Numerous geological formations show signs of rapid sedimentation, consistent with catastrophic water deposition. Scholarly research from organizations focusing on flood geology (e.g., technical articles by the Institute for Creation Research and Answers in Genesis) documents sedimentary layers that appear to have been laid down quickly, rather than slowly over millions of years.

Conclusion

Based on scriptural descriptions (Genesis 7:21–23), only air-breathing, land-dwelling creatures faced total destruction while Noah’s family and designated creatures were safe on the ark. Fish and other aquatic life were not mandated to board, implying they remained in the floodwaters. Though countless marine creatures likely perished, enough endured—possibly aided by adaptable physiology, stratified water zones, and surviving pockets of stable conditions—to account for the continued existence of fish after the Flood.

In sum, biblical testimony, supported by fossil evidence and geological observations, indicates that fish did survive during Noah’s Flood, though not without extensive mortality throughout Earth’s waters.