Oceanic Manta Rays are the world's largest ray species and can reach seven metres across and weigh up to two tonnes. Photo: 123RF
The Oceanic Manta Ray is the frontrunner on the final day of voting for New Zealand's fish of the year, Te Ika o Te Tau.
The annual competition is in its third year, celebrating the incredible biodiversity of our freshwater and marine environments.
"We're hoping maybe that a few of the smaller species could jump up the rankings a little bit" - Samara Nicholas
Competition organiser and founder of Experiencing Marine Reserves Samara Nicholas said voting for the competition closes at midnight on Friday and it was "about encouraging more awareness of all the fish that are really important to New Zealanders".
Currently the long-fin eel was in second spot, while the large bellied seahorse was in fourth spot at this stage, she said.
Nicholas said she hoped that some of the smaller species might jump up in the rankings.
"The little blue-eyed triple fin which is a fish that people will commonly see while snorkeling in New Zealand, also endemic to New Zealand so found nowhere else, great to see them come up in the spotlight a little bit."
Nicholas said she had personally been backing the Crested weedfish.
"They're a really cool cryptic ambush predator that are well camoflaged to look like seaweed ... and it's really sad because we're losing a lot of our underwater seaweed forests. We're not seeing the crested weedfish around so much so it would be great for them to get a little bit more awareness."
It would also be good to see the red moki move up the ranks as it also had an important ecological role in the country's rocky reef environment, she said.
Snapper was currently at number 15 spot with many New Zealanders choosing it as their favourite eating fish, she said.
But she hoped the campaign would help people to view fish in a different way, other than just as on their table.
Anyone who wants to vote before midnight tonight can click on Fish of the Year / Te Ika o Te Tau 2023.