Blobfish on BoingBoing
Cory Doctorow posted a picture of one of our Seamount Mascosts, the blobfish, on BoingBoing, along with the note that he was "trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between 1013 m and 1340 m, on the Norfolk Ridge, north-west of New Zealand, June 2003."
Well, Cory, the bad news is that this beautiful and inspiring species could be wiped out because the UN has failed to take action to protect the sea bottom this week. OK, he's not cute, but bottom trawling is indiscriminate and rips up the delicate and disgusting alike. Here's some of the other creatures the UN deemed not to protect:
Comments
It seems ridiculous to me that even when all the other countries vote against something, just one tiny nation voting against it can sink the whole thing!!
Posted by: Beluga | November 24, 2006 9:58 PM
I think Blobfish is cute! (Does that say more about him or me? No wonder I'm single.)
Anyway, in answer to Beluga - there were actually also a few other nations who voted against the moratorium, but the biggest problem is that the fisheries agreement had to be a CONSENSUS. This often means (and did this time as well) that the text which is agreed upon is the weakest, lowest common denominator kind of stuff rather than the actual best proposal. Which, I personally agree, is a pretty stupid way to make such important decisions.
Posted by: Adele | November 26, 2006 6:49 PM
ewww wtf is that!!! its so ugly!!!
Posted by: mariahU | June 6, 2007 4:40 AM
that thing gives me the creeps so so bad! aaaaaaahhhhhh
Posted by: cynthia | March 19, 2008 9:25 PM