Once deemed the “world’s ugliest animal,” the blobfish has been crowned as New Zealand’s Fish of the Year for 2025, marking a significant turnaround for this peculiar creature. The blobfish, scientifically known as Psychrolutes marcidus, won the accolade in a contest held by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, garnering 1,286 votes, a mere 300 votes ahead of the runner-up, the orange roughy. The results were announced after the polls closed on March 16, 2025, in a competition that attracted over 5,500 voters.
The blobfish first gained notoriety over a decade ago when it was awarded the title of “world’s ugliest animal” in 2013, spurring a cultural fascination that included its adoption by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society as their mascot. This gelatinous fish, commonly found residing at depths of 2,000 to 4,000 feet off the coast of New Zealand and Australia, is characterized by its unique anatomy, which lacks a swim bladder, full skeleton, muscles, and scales. Instead, it possesses a body made largely of a jelly-like substance that allows it to float effortlessly above the ocean floor.
Konrad Kurta, a spokesperson for the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, explained the blobfish’s adaptations, noting that these features enable it to thrive under the immense pressure of its deep-sea habitat. “It sort of sits there and waits for prey to come very close and practically walk into its mouth before it eats them,” Kurta said. Remarkably, blobfish can live up to 130 years, and females are known to lay up to 100,000 eggs in a single clutch, which they diligently guard until they hatch.
The blobfish’s celebrity status took a turn toward the ironic, as its shape transforms drastically when it is brought to the surface due to sudden decompression. This phenomenon changes the blobfish from its typically bulbous appearance into a squashed and disfigured shape, often described as resembling “a failed medical experiment.” This misleading portrayal has contributed to the widespread view of the fish as unattractive. “Regrettably, when it is pulled up, that sudden decompression causes it to become all disfigured,” Kurta noted.
This year’s Fish of the Year competition received an unprecedented level of engagement, with 5,583 votes cast compared to just over 1,000 the previous year. Nine of the ten nominees for this year’s award are considered vulnerable species by conservation groups, and the blobfish is notably at risk due to the practices of deep-sea trawling. Bottom-trawling often inadvertently captures blobfish as bycatch while targeting species like the orange roughy—the runner-up this year, which is also categorized as vulnerable.
“In some ways, it was fitting that blobfish and orange roughy were close at the end. They both live in deep-sea environments close to New Zealand, and the blobfish is often incidentally caught during bottom trawling for orange roughy,” Kim Jones, co-director of the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, commented.
The blobfish’s triumph reflects a broader mission to raise awareness about New Zealand’s unique marine biodiversity. “Many of our freshwater and marine fish are found nowhere else in the world,” Jones added, highlighting the importance of promoting awareness of these species amidst growing environmental concerns.
In a playful twist, local radio hosts Sarah Gandy and Paul Flynn from the network More FM rallied support for the blobfish, urging their listeners to cast votes in its favor. Their campaign gained traction, leading to an unexpected surge in momentum for the blobfish during the final days of voting. “There is an up and coming fish, it needs your vote,” they proclaimed, encouraging New Zealanders to embrace the blobfish and restore its dignity.
“The blobfish had been sitting patiently on the ocean floor, mouth open waiting for the next mollusc to come through to eat. He has been bullied his whole life and we thought, ‘Stuff this, it’s time for the blobfish to have his moment in the sun’, and what a glorious moment it is!” Gandy and Flynn expressed joy over the blobfish’s victory.
The blobfish's win is not just a victory for the underdog; it signifies a critical point for conservation efforts as well. The Fish of the Year competition, launched in 2020, is designed to draw attention to marine life and advocate for the protection of these species. With approximately 85% of New Zealand's native marine and freshwater fish classified as vulnerable, such initiatives are essential.
As environmental groups continue to voice concerns over practices like bottom trawling and their consequences on fragile marine ecosystems, the recognition of the blobfish serves as a reminder of the need for action to safeguard vulnerable species. New Zealand's responsibility includes about 80% of the global orange roughy catch, placing it at the center of conservation dialogues.
In summary, the blobfish’s rise from the depths of ridicule to Fish of the Year is a testament to the sometimes-overlooked importance of all creatures within our ecosystems, regardless of their outward appearance. Celebrating such a creature encourages ongoing discussions on environmental stewardship and compassion towards all of our planet's inhabitants.
