A remarkable conservation effort is giving new hope to the critically endangered red handfish, with 232 hatchlings now thriving in the largest captive breeding event ever achieved for the species – and it’s a vital step in safeguarding the future of one of the world's rarest fish.
“This program is improving in leaps and bounds. These individuals represent triple the captive red handfish population in Tasmania,” said IMAS researcher Dr Andrew Trotter, who co-leads the handfish conservation breeding program at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).
“It’s very encouraging to have successfully bred the species in captivity in three consecutive breeding seasons, and feels like our team is making significant ground in saving the species.”
Dr Trotter said the eggs took just over 50 days to hatch after fertilisation and were cared for by their doting mothers during that time.
“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.”
The young are raised in captivity and will go through ‘handfish school’ before being released into the wild. This conditioning and enrichment program trains them to survive and thrive in the wild, which is one of the critical components funded by our partners at the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species (FAME).
FAME CEO, Tracy McNamara is delighted that, with FAME’s support, the team at IMAS is not only proving that dedicated conservation efforts can save the red handfish, but can deliver impactful outcomes that pave the way for the species’ recovery.
Dr Jemina Stuart-Smith, who co-leads the red handfish recovery program, emphasised the critical role of the red handfish captive breeding program in the species' recovery.
"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."