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Red handfish to spread their fins in new breeding node at Seahorse World

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Red handfish conservation has been given another boost, with the establishment of a new breeding node at Seahorse World at Beauty Point, Tasmania.

Scientists at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) have been working with Seahorse World to establish a second purpose-built red handfish facility.

“This additional facility doubles our capacity to safeguard the critically endangered red handfish from extinction and strengthens our safety net in caring for them in captivity,” said Dr Andrew Trotter, who co-leads the conservation breeding project for red handfish at IMAS.

“While the plan is to return these animals to the wild, we need to be able to breed large numbers in captivity – and to decrease the risks associated with holding them all at one site.”

Seahorse World Director and Head Biologist, Rachelle Hawkins said her team were excited to be able to take on more handfish.

Our IMAS marine ecology team prepare Red handfish for transporting. Photo: Andrew Trotter IMAS

“It’s a big responsibility, but a vital step in safeguarding the species from extinction,” Ms Hawkins said.

“The facility will also include a public display, which will help continue to raise awareness of this species, especially as it is a species few people will ever get to see in the wild.”

IMAS marine ecologist and project co-leader, Dr Jemina Stuart-Smith, said IMAS scientists plan to continue monitoring the red handfish in the wild, while the captive breeding program will allow more individuals bred to manage genetic diversity to be returned to the wild in the future.

“We are very focused on habitat restoration and management to allow these handfish to be returned to a safe environment,”  Dr Jemina Stuart-Smith said.

The facility was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), with the breeding program funded by the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species, and other aspects funded by generous donors who support the Handfish Conservation Project.

This important work is carried out with support from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) and in consultation with the National Handfish Recovery Team.


Red handfish. Photo: Tyson Bessell IMAS

FAST FACTS:

  • Red handfish Thymichthys politus is a small critically endangered species of anglerfish, usually about 8cm long and varying in colour from bright red to light pink or brown.
  • Red handfish are recognised as one of 110 priority species under the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032.
  • There are estimated to be fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild, living in two small patches of rocky reef in Frederick Henry Bay, southeast of Hobart.
  • Handfish get their name from their preference for ‘walking’ on their pectoral and pelvic fins.
  • Threats to Red handfish: habitat loss and destruction from native sea urchins overgrazing seaweeds, pollution and siltation, coastal development, human disturbance (boating and diving), and climate change.
  • Handfish are vulnerable to disturbance because they have small, fragmented populations (possibly low genetic diversity) due to their limited dispersal (they cannot ‘walk’ to new areas), no planktonic larval stage (young cannot drift to new areas on ocean currents) and small egg clutches requiring vigilant maternal care.

Cover image: Red handfish
Credit: Jemina Stuart-Smith