To: The New Zealand Government

Save the blobfish!

The blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus), a mysterious deep-sea species, is at risk of extinction due to destructive human activities. To ensure its survival, we need urgent action. Here’s what must be done:

  1. Ban Deep-Sea Trawling in Blobfish Habitats
    Deep-sea trawling is one of the most harmful fishing methods, causing significant damage to the seabed and indiscriminately killing marine life, including the blobfish. Governments must introduce and enforce bans on deep-sea trawling in areas where blobfish are known to live, protecting their fragile habitat from further destruction.

  2. Implement Stronger Regulations for Deep-Sea Fishing
    We need stronger international regulations on deep-sea fishing to protect vulnerable species like the blobfish. This includes setting stricter limits on where and how fishing can take place in deep-sea environments, as well as ensuring that bycatch (unintended capture) of blobfish is minimized or eliminated.

  3. Support Research and Conservation Efforts
    Funding is needed for research on blobfish populations and their ecosystem. By learning more about the species and their role in the marine environment, we can develop better conservation strategies. Governments and environmental organizations must allocate resources for these critical studies.

  4. Raise Awareness of the Impact of Human Activity on the Deep Sea
    Public education campaigns are essential to highlight the dangers facing the deep ocean and its inhabitants. By raising awareness of the harm caused by practices like deep-sea trawling, we can drive support for policy changes and foster a sense of responsibility for protecting the ocean's biodiversity.

Why is this important?

We are standing at a critical moment in time when the deep sea is under increasing threat from human activities. The blobfish is a prime example of a species on the brink of extinction, not because of natural causes, but due to destructive practices like deep-sea trawling.

It's essential to act now because if the blobfish, which was only recently discovered, is already at risk, other species we don't even know about may already be disappearing. The damage caused by deep-sea trawling is devastating and widespread, affecting entire ecosystems that take decades, if not centuries, to recover.

Why do we need to join together now in a campaign for change?

  • Protect Biodiversity: The blobfish is just one species among many that are suffering due to our lack of protective measures for deep-sea environments. By acting now, we can safeguard the rich diversity of life that exists in the depths of the ocean.
  • Preserve Ecosystems: Once deep-sea habitats are destroyed, the damage is often irreversible. Protecting these environments now ensures future generations will benefit from healthy marine ecosystems.
  • Raise Global Awareness: A campaign like this helps raise awareness not only for the blobfish but for the broader issue of deep-sea conservation. The more people know, the more support we can build for long-term change.
  • Drive Policy Change: By uniting in this campaign, we can push for policy reforms that ban destructive fishing practices and enforce stricter regulations for deep-sea exploitation.