The blobfish, once dubbed the world’s ugliest animal, has claimed a more prestigious title. It has been named New Zealand’s Fish of the Year, shifting public perception of this deep-sea creature. The contest, run by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, highlights the country’s native aquatic life.
A unique life beneath the waves
The blobfish, Psychrolutes marcidus, lives in deep, pressurised waters near New Zealand and Australia. It has adapted to extreme depths by evolving a soft, gelatinous body. Unlike most fish, it lacks a swim bladder, full skeleton, muscles, and scales. Its body is less dense than water, allowing it to float just above the seabed.
According to Konrad Kurta from the conservation trust, blobfish can live up to 130 years. They are slow-moving predators, waiting for prey to drift into their mouths. “It just sits and waits for food to come close,” Kurta said.
Despite its unusual appearance, the blobfish is a dedicated parent. Females lay up to 100,000 eggs and guard them until they hatch. The fish first gained fame when a photo taken aboard a research vessel went viral. However, Kurta explains that its droopy look is misleading. Rapid decompression when brought to the surface causes its body to change shape. “Underwater, it looks more like a normal deep-sea fish,” he said.
Threats from deep-sea fishing
Little is known about the blobfish’s conservation status, but its habitat faces serious threats. Bottom-trawling, used to catch orange roughy, often results in blobfish being unintentionally caught. The practice is known to damage fragile marine ecosystems.
The Fish of the Year competition, launched in 2020, aims to raise awareness about New Zealand’s marine life. This year, a record 5,583 votes were cast, significantly more than the previous year’s 1,000 votes.
A close victory in the contest
The blobfish secured 1,286 votes, narrowly defeating the orange roughy by 300 votes. The roughy had strong support from Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, and the Environmental Law Initiative.
“We are very happy for the blobfish,” said Aaron Packard from the Environmental Law Initiative. “A win for the blobfish also raises awareness about orange roughy.” New Zealand is responsible for 80 per cent of the global orange roughy catch. Conservationists regularly call for stricter regulations due to the species’ vulnerability.
Highlighting aquatic diversity
This year’s competition featured a variety of native species, including the longfin eel (tuna in Māori), a pygmy pipehorse, and a critically endangered mudfish. Sharks and rays also competed for the title.
Kurta stressed the importance of marine conservation, noting that 85 per cent of New Zealand’s native fish are at risk. “Simply knowing these fish exist is the first step,” he said. “It helps people connect with what’s happening below the surface.”
(Inputs from The Guardian)
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