Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00300:body:0:p12
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00300
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 31439–36066

whereby they produce an egg mass structure connected by tubules and threads (Bruce et al.,, 1999), attach the egg masses to vertical structures and females guard the eggs until they hatch into fully formed young which settle in the immediate area (DEH, 2005). Egg masses have been found around sponges in depths of 20 m (Pogonoski et al., 2002).

3.3.4 Habitat critical to the survival of Ziebell's handfish
The Ziebell's handfish is most recently known from the Waterfall Bay area of the Tasman Peninsula. The species appears to prefer soft bottomed habitat, with patches of rock that support sponge and algae communities, though it has also been found at the edge of giant kelp forests, on rocky substrate, on rock ledges and in cracks on open walls and inside caves. The species has a depth distribution of 3-20 metres; most often found in depths of 10-20 metres (Last and Gledhill, 2009). Given the low number of mature individuals and the extremely limited distribution of the species, all areas in which Ziebell's handfish are found (including those currently known and any new areas identified in the future) represent habitat critical to the survival of the species.

Table 2: Current distribution of handfish species and key threats.
Species                              Distribution*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Tenure                                               Threats
                                     Known to occur: nine locations in the lower Derwent Estuary and two locations in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel.                                                                                                                                                                                      Loss of spawning substrate
Spotted handfish                     Likely to occur: further locations in the lower Derwent Estuary and D'Entrecasteaux Channel.                                                                                                                                                  Marine Protected Area (IUCN category VI equivalent)
(Brachionichthys hirsutus)           May occur: multiple inshore locations along the continental shelf on the east coast of Tasmania, including Frederick Henry Bay, Great Oyster Bay, Huon Estuary, Cape Portland, St Helens and the wider D'Entrecasteaux Channel.               State Waters                                         Habitat degradation (loss of refugia and foraging/feeding habitat)

Red handfish                         Known to occur: one location in Primrose Sands, Frederick Henry Bay.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Loss of spawning substrate
(Thymichthys politus)                Likely to occur: wider area surrounding Primrose Sands, Frederick Henry Bay.                                                                                                                                                                  State Waters
                                     May occur: multiple inshore locations along the eastern coast of Tasmania, including Port Arthur region, the Forestier Peninsula, the Actaeon Islands, D'Entrecasteaux Channel and possible areas in the Bass Strait, off northern Tasmania.                                                       Climate change and habitat degradation
Ziebell's / Waterfall Bay handfish   Known to occur: distribution of remaining extant populations currently unknown.                                                                                                                                                               Marine Protected Area (IUCN category VI equivalent)  Threats unknown
(Brachiopsilus ziebelli)             Likely to occur: Waterfall Bay area of Tasman Peninsula and Bicheno region.                                                                                                                                                                   State Waters
                                     May occur: multiple locations along the eastern and southern coasts of Tasmania, including the lower D'Entrecasteaux Channel, the Acteaon Islands, the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas, Bicheno and Cox Bight in south-west Tasmania.

* known to occur consists of all locations where the species