Research Project
Researchers: Chalk, Curt (collaborator) , Emma Flukes (Point of contact) , Flynn, David (collaborator) , Green, Mark (collaborator) , Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (Associated with)
Full description 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.
Lineage Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Notes
Credit
This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Climate Agriculture, Water and Energy (DAWE) through the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub. In addition to NESP (DAWE) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.
Notes
Purpose
This project builds on previous studies to develop new methods to aid handfish recovery and provides a pathway to recovery through tangible on-ground actions. This project provides a critical step for both addressing and assessing multiple actions within the recovery plan.
Data time period: 2016-03-01 to 2020-06-30
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Stuart-Smith, J., Lynch, T., McEnnulty, F., Green, M., Devine, C., Trotter, A., Bessell, T., Wong, L., Hale, P., Martini, A., Stuart-Smith, R., Barrett, N. (2021). Conservation of handfishes and their habitats – final report 2020. Report to the National Environmental Science Program, Marine Biodiversity Hub. University of Tasmania. (Final Project Report)
Lynch, T., Wong, L., Fountain, T., and Devine C. (2017). Procedures and methods for establishment of captive breeding populations of spotted handfish. Report to the National Environmental Science Program, Marine Biodiversity Hub. CSIRO. (Technical Report)
Wong, L., and T.P., Lynch (2017). Monitoring of Spotted Handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus) populations and on ground conservation actions. Report to the National Environmental Science Programme, Marine Biodiversity Hub. CSIRO. 19 pages (Technical Report)
Wong LSC, Lynch TP, Barrett NS, Wright JT, Green MA, Flynn DJH (2018) Local densities and habitat preference of the critically endangered spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus): Large scale field trial of GPS parameterised underwater visual census and diver attached camera. PLoS ONE 13(8): e0201518. (Associated Publication)
doi :
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201518
(Project page on NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub website)
url :
https://www.nespmarine.edu.au/project/project-a10-conservation-handfish-and-their-habitat.html
(Australian Government NESP MB Hub website)
url :
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/environment-information-australia/nesp/hub-marine-biodiversity
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- DOI : 10.71676/4C5A22BB