The competition, organised by Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust to raise awareness about New Zealand’s marine life and fragile ecosystem, received 5,583 votes.
In the results announced on Sunday, the blobfish emerged victorious, receiving nearly 1,300 votes and defeating its closest competitor, the orange roughy, by nearly 300 votes.
“Renowned for its unfortunate frown and decidedly squishy disposition when pulled from the depths, Kiwis have shown they truly believe that blob is beautiful,” the trust said, according to Otago Daily Times.
Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust co-director Kim Jones told the newspaper it was “a battle of the deep sea forget-me-nots. A battle of two quirky deep sea critters, with the blobfish’s unconventional beauty helping get voters over the line.”
