Culture

Blobfish Named New Zealand's 2025 Fish of the Year

Published MAR 19 2025

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Above: The Psychrolutes phrictus fish. Image credit: HUM Images/Contributor/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

The blobfish's victory is a triumph of unconventional beauty and a chance for an underappreciated species to shine after years of being mocked for its appearance. It proves that even the most maligned creatures deserve recognition and protection.

NBC Stuff

Narrative B

The close competition between the blobfish and orange roughy highlights urgent conservation challenges in deep-sea ecosystems. Both species face significant threats from bottom trawling practices, with New Zealand controlling 80% of global orange roughy catches.

Independent Guardian