This record provides an overview of the scope and research output of the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub project "Conservation of handfish and their habitat". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata.

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Spotted Handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus) and Red Handfish (Thymichthys politus) are Critically Endangered species with small, fragmented populations in southern Tasmania. Spotted Handfish persist only in isolated sub-populations in the Derwent and D’Entrecasteaux estuaries, where recovery is constrained by limited dispersal, specific spawning habitat requirements, degraded habitat, introduced predators, pollution, mooring impacts and coastal development.

This project established and extended a monitoring and conservation program for Spotted and Red Handfish in accordance with the Handfish Recovery Plan. For Spotted Handfish, it built on baseline surveys of all known southern Tasmanian sub-populations and applied an innovative georeferenced photographic survey method using towed floats, GPS tracking and individual spot-pattern identification. These data supported density estimates, capture-mark-recapture analysis, assessment of movement between sub-populations, and tracking of conservation actions.

From 2019–2020, the project expanded to include Red Handfish and implemented direct conservation actions informed by monitoring and research. Activities included replacement of degraded plastic artificial spawning habitat with redesigned ceramic units, assessment of taut eco-friendly moorings in critical Spotted Handfish habitat, genetic and capture-mark-recapture studies for both species, population viability analysis, and evaluation of management actions.

The project also supported captive breeding with industry partners, re-established the Handfish Recovery Team, and contributed to community engagement through talks, outreach and publications. Outputs provided data and evidence to guide artificial spawning habitat placement, brood-stock collection decisions, predator management, mooring replacement, and future recovery planning for both species.