Viral videos claiming to show a mermaid caught in a fishing net or mermaid found on camera have taken over TikTok, YouTube, Instagram Reels, and Facebook. These clips generate millions of views, often showing a human like creature trapped in a net, washed up on a beach, or moving underwater with a fish like tail.
But are any of these videos real? This article breaks down everything circulating online, analyzes the visuals, checks available evidence, and confirms whether a real mermaid has ever been caught on camera.
Online users have shared multiple versions of so-called mermaid footage, often labelled as:
Mermaid caught in a fishing net.
Mermaid caught on camera in Ireland.
Mermaid found in South Africa.
Fishermen find real mermaid in China.
Mermaid caught in Vietnam.
Mermaid found in Japan.
Although the locations differ, the format is similar, a dramatic scene involving a half human creature filmed near the ocean.
When the videos are examined closely, they display several visual and technical flaws. The key indicators include the following:
Many clips display:
Marine animals caught in nets show real flinching, reflexes, and irregular movements. The inconsistencies strongly suggest digital generation.
Across viral mermaid clips, lighting issues appear frequently:
These mismatches are common in AI-generated video models.
Some videos circulating online visibly include:
This indicates that several clips are intentionally produced using text-to-video generators.
The fishing net seen in many videos is a major giveaway. In multiple examples:
This happens when AI fails to calculate correct physical interaction in generated footage.
Multiple videos show:
These background errors align with common AI-rendering limitations.
Through detailed fact checking, we have found the following information:
Fact-checkers and experts have confirmed that many trending mermaid videos originate from CGI creators, AI artists, VFX hobbyists, Experimental content producers. Some creators even state in the captions that the videos are made using tools like Sora, Runway, or Pika Labs.
If a real mermaid were discovered, it would instantly become global news. Yet, any major news platforms or major marine research institutions have not reported a single verified mermaid discovery. This absence is significant and confirms the lack of authenticity.
Marine biologists and scientific organizations state:
Past hoaxes add context to modern false claims:
These incidents contributed to mermaid myths long before AI technology existed.
After examining all the viral mermaid clips and available verified information, there is no confirmed evidence that a real mermaid has ever been captured on camera to date. Despite the widespread claims, none of these incidents have been confirmed by any official authority or reputable news outlet.
Most viral clips are AI-generated, CGI-edited, or digitally manipulated. Even some creators have admitted using Sora AI and other video tools to produce the scenes. Until today, no genuine mermaid discovery has been reported by any legitimate authority or media organization.