Blobfish, From the Ugliest Animal to "Fish of the Year"
Light House Denver – The blobfish has undergone a dramatic turnaround, as it was declared the ugliest animal in the world in 2013. However, they have now chosen this unique sea creature as the ‘Fish of the Year’ in New Zealand through a competition aimed at raising awareness about marine life and its fragile ecosystems.
This annual competition is organized by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust. Its goal is to familiarize New Zealanders with the various species of fish living in the country’s freshwater and marine environments. The event also aims to educate the public on the importance of preserving marine life, which is increasingly under threat.
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Measuring about 30 centimeters in length, the blobfish has a very unique appearance. Its body resembles a large tadpole, with loose skin, a big nose, and bulging eyes, making it far from a beauty contest winner. Despite its unappealing appearance, the blobfish primarily lives off the southeast coast of Australia and Tasmania. It lives at depths ranging from 600 to 1,200 meters below the surface. Its unique features make it an interesting, though unattractive, marine species.
Through a voting process conducted on the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust’s website, the blobfish received 5,583 votes. The vulnerable aquatic creature narrowly defeated its closest competitor, the orange roughy, by almost 300 votes. Kim Jones, one of the directors of the foundation, mentioned that it was a contest between two unique sea creatures. The blobfish’s unusual beauty helped it capture the voters’ attention.
Jones added that many freshwater and marine fish in New Zealand exist nowhere else in the world. Climate change and land-use patterns are putting significant pressure on local waters, putting many fish species in the region at risk of extinction. The competition seeks to raise public awareness about the threats facing marine ecosystems. Its goal is to highlight the critical importance of conserving these ecosystems for future generations.
Selecting the blobfish as ‘Fish of the Year’ aims to inspire more people to care about marine life. The goal is to encourage active contributions to its preservation.
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