A Tasmanian marine research project has handed “one of the world’s rarest fish” a lifeline.
More than 200 of the critically endangered red handfish are now “thriving” in a captive breeding program, which is in the safe hands of scientists at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).
Andrew Trotter, research and co-lead on the project, said the program’s success was vital to safeguarding the fish’s future.
“[It] feels like our team is making significant ground in saving the species,” Dr Trotter said.
The handfish hatchlings are kept in tanks with hopes to one day transfer some of them to the wild. (IMAS: Rick Stuart Smith)
Only about 100 red handfish are estimated to be left living in the wild, and they are all believed to call waters south-east of Hobart home.
The fish is one of a small number of species native to Australian waters that can pull themselves along the sea floor with their fins, which are hand-like in appearance and use.
The species needs a hand to survive. (IMAS: Rick Stuart Smith)
Wild population kept safe from marine heatwave
The red handfish habitat, two small reefs in Frederik Henry Bay, was hit by a marine heatwave last summer that scientists feared could wipe out the species entirely.
The fears prompted an urgent intervention, greenlit by Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek under a “national interest exemption”, to remove about 25 fish in January to further safeguard the species.
IMAS scientists removed about a quarter of the wild population of red handfish ahead of a marine heatwave, with most now returned to the wild. (Supplied: IMAS)
The Albanese Labor government had pledged there would be no extinctions under its watch.
The intervention shone a light on IMAS’s ongoing conservation efforts, which have now resulted in what Dr Trotter said was a “tripling” of the captive population in Tasmania.
He said the project started in 2022 and there were now 232 hatchlings “thriving in the largest captive breeding event ever achieved for the species”.
Scientists say the handfish hatchlings are “thriving”. (IMAS: Rick Stuart Smith)
“It’s very encouraging to have successfully bred the species in captivity in three consecutive breeding seasons,” Dr Trotter said.
Scientists returned 18 of the captured red handfish to Frederik Henry Bay in April this year, and Dr Trotter said they aim to add to that population with the captive-bred creatures next year.
There are only about 100 red handfish left in the wild, scientists believe. (IMAS: Rick Stuart-Smith)
Project ‘promising’, but mission not accomplished
Before being released into the wild the fish will go through a conditioning and enrichment program, which Dr Trotter said would train them in critical survival skills.
“Our aim is to start releasing individuals back into the wild in 2025, and develop robust self-seeding populations,” he said.
“We’ve significantly improved our knowledge of red handfish biology, which has resulted in improved captive care and breeding capability.”
Jemina Stuart-Smith, the marine ecologist overseeing the capture and breeding, said the program’s success was “promising” but not a complete solution.
She has previously said captive breeding programs and interventions for vulnerable species may become more common in the future.
“There’s that increasing pressure on being able to act very quickly, particularly in terms of climate change impacts,” she said.
“While the program’s progress is promising, restoring and managing habitats at red handfish sites remains vital.
“These combined efforts will ultimately determine the survival of the species.”
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