Imagine my surprise to discover a
fish named after Michael Moore.
The unfortunately named blobfish has already acquired a reputation for looking sad.
And now it has good reason for its glum expression - scientists are warning over-fishing by trawlers of its south eastern Australian habitat is threatening to make it extinct.
The bloated bottom dweller, which can grow up to 12 inches, lives at depths of up to 800m, so it rarely seen by humans.
But thanks to increased fishing, the fish is being dragged up with other catches.
Despite being unedible itself, the blobfish lives at the same depths as other more appetising ocean organisms, including crab and lobster.
Deep-sea expert Professor Callum Roberts, from University of York, said the blobfish had plenty to be miserable about.
Prof Roberts, author 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.
The comments at the link will bring you to tears. A sample:
Looks like my mother in law when she just comes out of the sea and sunbathe's!
- OneWhoKnows, Shangri-La, 26/1/2010 4:21
Imagine my surprise to discover a fish named after Michael Moore.
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