Blobfish wins New Zealand's fish of the year after years of ugly label

More than a decade after being labeled the "world’s ugliest animal," the blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus) has made an unexpected comeback, winning New Zealand’s "Fish of the Year" competition. Organized by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, the contest saw the blobfish secure 1,286 votes, outpacing its closest competitor, the orange roughy, by fewer than 300 votes when polls closed Sunday. The blobfish, known for its gelatinous, sagging appearance, has long been a subject of fascination and humor in online meme culture. However, its distinct anatomy serves a crucial purpose, allowing it to survive in deep-sea environments off the coasts of New Zealand and Australia. Unlike most fish, the blobfish lacks a full skeleton, scales, muscles, and a swim bladder, which typically helps fish maintain buoyancy. Instead, its soft, low-density tissue enables it to float effortlessly above the seafloor.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by 🫧🪸Under Water Stuffs🪸🫧 (@underwaterstuffs) Despite its online notoriety, the commonly shared image of the blobfish does not accurately reflect its appearance in the water. When brought to the surface, the sudden change in pressure disfigures its body, giving it the melted, grumpy look that made it famous. The blobfish’s victory in the competition highlights concerns about deep-sea conservation. While its exact population status remains unknown, its habitat is increasingly vulnerable to deep-sea trawling, a fishing practice that inadvertently captures and threatens blobfish populations. According to Konrad Kurta, a spokesperson for the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, the blobfish is often caught as bycatch during bottom trawling for orange roughy, another deep-sea species. Kim Jones, co-director of the trust, noted that both species face similar threats. "In some ways, it was fitting that blobfish and orange roughy were close at the end," Jones said. "They both live in deep-sea environments near New Zealand, and managing orange roughy habitats more carefully could also benefit the blobfish." The orange roughy, which came in second place, is considered a vulnerable species struggling with population decline due to overfishing. New Zealand dominates the global orange roughy market, accounting for about 80% of all catches. Among the other contestants in the "Fish of the Year" competition, most were classified as endangered or vulnerable species—except for the blue cod, which finished in last place with just 260 votes. While the blobfish's win highlights its cultural appeal, conservationists hope the attention will also raise awareness about the threats facing deep-sea ecosystems.

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