The blobfish, Psychrolutes marcidus, has become a global icon, recognized widely for its uniquely melancholic, gelatinous appearance. This fish is frequently misunderstood, often portrayed in popular culture based solely on its appearance after being removed from its deep-sea environment. The viral image often leads to speculation about its conservation status, with many assuming it must be severely threatened. To understand its true status, one must separate this viral image from the biological reality of this elusive deep-sea inhabitant.
Understanding the Blobfish’s Natural Form and Habitat
The familiar “blob” appearance is not the fish’s natural state but is a direct result of rapid depressurization when it is brought up from the crushing depths of the ocean. The blobfish typically lives on the continental slopes off the coasts of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, inhabiting depths between 600 and 1,200 meters (about 2,000 to 3,900 feet). At these extreme depths, the water pressure is 60 to 120 times greater than at sea level.
In its native environment, the blobfish maintains a shape more like a typical fish, described as tadpole-like with a bulbous head and tapered tail. It lacks a swim bladder, which would collapse under the immense pressure, and instead relies on a gelatinous body mass with a density slightly less than water. This buoyant, jelly-like tissue allows the fish to float just above the seafloor without expending energy. Its diet consists mainly of edible matter that floats or drifts in front of it, such as deep-ocean crustaceans.
Clarifying the Official Conservation Status
Despite its notoriety, the blobfish does not currently hold an official “Endangered” designation from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The most current assessment for Psychrolutes marcidus is “Not Evaluated.” This status indicates that the species has not yet been formally assessed against the IUCN’s criteria for extinction risk, not that it is definitively safe from threats.
The lack of a formal rating is mainly due to the difficulty in studying a species that lives thousands of feet below the surface. Direct observation of the blobfish population is rare, meaning scientists have few opportunities to accurately determine its distribution, population size, or rate of decline. Most of what is known comes from specimens inadvertently caught by fishing vessels. Therefore, the absence of an “Endangered” status reflects a significant gap in scientific data, making it impossible to determine the true population health of this elusive fish.
The Real Threats Facing Deep-Sea Populations
While the blobfish does not have an official threatened status, its deep-sea habitat faces significant pressure from human activities. The primary threat to the blobfish and other deep-sea fauna is deep-sea bottom trawling. This industrial fishing method involves dragging large, heavy nets across the ocean floor, targeting species like orange roughy and deep-sea crustaceans.
Bottom trawling is highly destructive, capable of obliterating sensitive, long-lived habitats such as deep-water coral gardens and seamounts. The blobfish is frequently caught as bycatch—non-target species unintentionally captured in fishing nets. Even if these fish are released, the fatal effects of being rapidly brought to the surface and experiencing massive depressurization means their capture is almost always lethal. The vulnerability of the blobfish lies in its inability to survive interactions with the industrial practices that encroach upon its remote home.