Ugly contest champion: Blobfish snatches 'New Zealand fish of the year' title, breaking its infamous reputation.
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Once considered the ugliest critter in the sea, the blobfish has undergone quite a transformation. Its gelatinous physique earned it the unenviable title of the world's ugliest animal back in 2013. But this year, it's been hailed as New Zealand's "Fish of the Year!"
This unsightly seafarer claimed the title in a competition organized by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust. The yearly event aims to educate New Zealanders about their country's diverse marine life and the fragility of its marine ecosystem.
As described by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), blobfish resemble a "big, blobby tadpole with a mass of pale, jelly-like flesh, puffy, loose skin, a large snout, and beady, staring eyes." These bizarre creatures can grow up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) long and are usually found off the southeastern coast of Australia and Tasmania, dwelling at depths ranging from 600 to 1,200 meters.
Voting for the contest took place on the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust's website for just over two weeks this March, with the polls closing on the 16th. A total of 5,583 votes were cast, and the blobfish, considered vulnerable, stole the show, defeating its closest rival, the orange roughy, by nearly 300 votes.
The trust announced that the orange roughy seemed poised for victory until it received a tidal wave of support from New Zealand radio network More FM. Hosts Sarah Gandy and Paul Flynn of More FM's Drive show said, "The blobfish had been sitting patiently on the ocean floor, mouth open, waiting for the next mollusk to come through to eat. He has been bullied his whole life, and we think it's time for the blobfish to have his moment in the spotlight." They rallied their listeners, and it worked! The blobfish basked in its well-deserved moment of fame.
Kim Jones, co-director of the trust, shared her excitement about the unlikely winner: "It was a battle between two peculiar deep-sea creatures, and the blobfish's unique charm won over the voters."
The Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust organized the Fish of the Year competition to shed light on the many unique fish species found in New Zealand's fresh and saltwater environments, emphasizing the need for awareness due to the pressure their habitats face from climate change and human activities.
References: - [1] Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust (2025). Fish of the Year. https://www.mtsc.org.nz/fish-of-the-year/ - [2] NOAA (2021). Blobfish. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/blobfish.html - [3] Ugly Animal Preservation Society (2021). The Blobfish. https://uglyanimalpreservation.com/species/blobfish/
- The blobfish, previously known as the world's ugliest animal, has recently been recognized as New Zealand's "Fish of the Year" in a competition organized by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, showcasing the unique charm of this peculiar deep-sea creature.
- The competition, which aims to educate New Zealanders about their country's diverse marine life and the fragility of its marine ecosystem, reported a total of 5,583 votes cast over two weeks in March, with the blobfish, considered vulnerable, earning the title by a significant margin against its closest rival, the orange roughy.
- In light of the Fish of the Year competition, the trust encourages the public to appreciate the many unique fish species found in New Zealand's fresh and saltwater environments and emphasizes the need for awareness due to the pressure their habitats face from climate change and human activities.
