Blobfish: world's most 'miserable looking' marine animal facing extinction

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Blobfish: world's most 'miserable looking' marine animal facing extinction

The world's most miserable-looking fish is in danger of becoming extinct, according to scientists.


Scientists fear the blobfish, which can grow up to 12 inches, is in danger of being wiped out by over-fishing in its south eastern Australian habitat.

The fish, which lives at depths of up to 800m, is rarely seen by humans but it lives at the same depths as other ocean organisms, such as crabs and lobsters and other edible sea creatures.

As a result the fish, which is inedible, is being dragged up with other catches by trawler fishermen.

Marine expert Professor Callum Roberts, from University of York, said the blobfish had plenty to be miserable about.

Prof Roberts, who wrote the book "The Unnatural History of the Sea", said: "Blobfish are very vulnerable to being dragged up in these nets and from what we know this fish is only restricted to these waters.

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