A world-first breeding program has produced a record number of critically endangered red handfish hatchlings, giving new hope to the species’ survival.
Researchers at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) have successfully bred 232 red handfish in captivity, more than tripling the number of the fish held in Tasmania.
IMAS researcher Dr Andrew Trotter said the achievement is a vital step towards safeguarding the future of one of the world’s rarest fish.
“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,” he said.
The fish, found predominantly in the waters around Tasmania, are known for their unique ‘walking’ fins and bright red colouring.
The eggs took just over 50 days to hatch after fertilisation and were cared for by their mothers during that time.
“Our aim is to start releasing individuals back into the wild in 2025 and develop robust self-seeding populations,” Trotter said.
“We’ve significantly improved our knowledge of red handfish biology, which has resulted in improved captive care and breeding capability.”
The young fish will go through a ‘handfish school’ program before being released, which trains them to survive and thrive in the wild.
