Project Update: From Hatchlings to Habitat

Image Credit: Rick Stuart-Smith.

The past few months have been productive for the Red Handfish project, with steady progress in captive breeding, habitat assessments, and field surveys.

At the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), the captive population has reached a record 250 Red Handfish.

This includes more than 200 juveniles hatched in late 2024, alongside older juveniles, subadults, and a robust group of adults. Seventy-five mature fish, representing six distinct genetic lineages, are now in place for the upcoming 2025 breeding season.

The “Handfish School” continues to show encouraging results. Juveniles from the 2024 cohort are growing well, displaying increased activity in enriched tank environments and adapting to a more varied diet – small but important signs of resilience. Up at Seahorse World, a smaller backup population remains stable, including several juveniles from the 2023 breeding season.

Video Credit: Andrew Trotter, IMAS

Fieldwork during this period has included surveys at key sites, data collection, and habitat mapping. A highlight has been the initial assessment of a potential new translocation site. Early findings indicate that the habitat shares many features with existing Red Handfish locations, and further surveys are planned to confirm its suitability for future releases.

At Primrose Sands, urchin densities remain within acceptable levels, meaning no removal work was required this season. Ongoing monitoring will ensure that seagrass beds – the essential habitat for Red Handfish – remain in good condition.

While challenges remain, the combination of strong captive numbers and encouraging field assessments is a positive sign for the months ahead.

Learn more about the project