New Zealand` Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust announced the Fish of the Year 2025 competition was won by the blobfish, once voted as the `world`s ugliest animal.

The blobfish, famous for its unusual appearance once removed from the pressures of deep water, came out nearly 300 votes ahead of the `swimmer-up`.

`The Fish of the Year` competition, voted on by members of the public, aims to highlight and promote the conservation of New Zealand`s native underwater species.

Other fish appearing in New Zealand`s top 10 included the longfin eel, tuna, whale shark, big-bellied seahorse, great white shark, lamprey and piharau.