A new fish, Ophioblennius atlanticus commonly known as the Redlip blenny, has been spotted along the south shores of Malta recently.

The Redlip blenny tends to live in shallow water, is about 15 centimetres long, fairly tame and is not considered edible.

“It is an Atlantic fish and it has never before been recorded in the Mediterranean,” said Mark Anthony Falzon, who spotted the fish while diving. Its identification was confirmed by Professor Robert Patzner of Salzburg University, an international leading expert on this type of fish.

“It is not clear how the fish got here but it is possible that the species is present in the western Mediterranean, along the coast of North Africa – an area which is understudied,” said Prof. Falzon.

The discovery, part of Prof. Falzon’s ongoing studies on inshore fish in Maltese waters, will soon be published in a scientific journal.

The three main threats for the blennies are coastal development, pollution, and children with hand nets (koppijiet) who often catch them to take them home or then release them in poor condition.