Project Update: Record numbers and a brighter future for the Red Handfish

Thanks to your support, we’re seeing extraordinary progress in the conservation of the critically endangered Red Handfish, a species once feared to be on the brink of extinction.

At the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), our captive population has grown to 284 individuals, including an incredible 192 juveniles hatched in late 2024. These young fish are thriving; feeding on multiple sources, adapting to complex tank environments, and offering real hope for the species’ long-term survival. 

Social and dietary enrichment form part of our Handfish School curriculum, which is designed to endhance health and welfare while in captivity, and encourage the natural behaviours needed for life in the wild. In the video below, two Red Handfish juveniles that hatched last year are feeding on a small crustacean. They wave their illicium and esca (‘rod and lure’) at each other in some sort of communication that only handfish understand. 

Video credit: Andrea Williamson

With 75 mature individuals from six genetic lineages, the 2025 breeding season is underway and full of promise. Behind the scenes, a comprehensive literature review has also been completed, supporting future recovery planning.

However, as I often say, setbacks happen in this kind of work. We recently lost some juvenile Red Handfish due to a husbandry issue. It was a tough moment, but the team at IMAS responded quickly – reviewing what went wrong and putting changes in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again. It’s never easy, but experiences like this often lead to a stronger, more resilient program. We think it’s important to be upfront about the full picture. Conservation isn’t always smooth – but we owe it to the species we’re trying to save to learn from the hard moments and keep improving.

Meanwhile, we’re exploring the next critical step – translocation. Following government review, we’ve provided detailed plans and begun scouting potential release sites. Field teams collected habitat data in early 2025 and will continue surveying further sites in the coming months.

Underwater surveys continue to provide valuable insight into wild populations and habitat quality. While some areas remain stable, others are showing signs of environmental stress, reinforcing the urgency of our work.

This has always been an ambitious project – but ambition is exactly what the Red Handfish needed. From expanding our captive population to scouting real options for release, we’re turning possibility into progress.

For more or to make a donation, visit the project page of the website.