Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00300:body:0:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00300
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 21042–23950

brown or black spots that have orange borders (Last et al., 1983). Spotted handfish have unique markings which allow for identification of individuals (Bruce et al., 1997).
Spotted handfish are endemic to south-east Tasmania (refer to Table 2 and Figure 1). They are currently known from the lower Derwent Estuary and D'Entrecasteaux Channel (Bruce et al., 1998). Historically their range extended along the east coast of Tasmania; however surveys indicate the majority of spotted handfish now persist as small fragmented populations within the historic range (Last and Gledhill, 2009). Within the Derwent Estuary their estimated extent of occurrence is approximately 70 km2, however their actual area of occupancy is likely to be considerably less (DPIPWE, 2014).

3.1.2 Population trends
Determining population trends for spotted handfish is difficult because the species is small, cryptic, extremely rare and not located in areas frequented by recreational divers, thus the likelihood of anecdotal observations is low. The species was common throughout the lower Derwent Estuary and adjoining bays prior to the mid 1980s (Pogonoski et al., 2002). Surveys conducted from the late 1980s to early 1990s reported only two handfish in areas previously renowned for sightings, providing the first indication that the population may have declined rapidly during the 1980s (Bruce and Green, 2000). Surveys of a restricted population at Primrose Sands identified 87 individuals in 1999 (Green and Bruce, 2000), however surveys conducted in 2005 failed to detect any handfish at this site (Green, 2005). Analysis of data in 2009 suggested a total abundance of 1500–2700 mature spotted handfish (Green, 2009), however total abundance may have decreased since this time (Green, pers comm., 2014).

3.1.3 Biology and Ecology
Spotted handfish move by using their hand-like fins to crawl across the seafloor (DEH, 2005) and use their illicium (modified dorsal fin ray) to attract food (Edgar et al., 1982) and probe egg masses (DEH, 2005). Their diet includes small crustaceans and polychaete worms (Bruce et al., 1998), small shells (Kuiter, 1996) and amphipods (Bruce et al., 1997). Spotted handfish migration rates are likely to be low (Green, 2005). Species longevity is yet to be determined (Bruce et al., 1999). However, female growth rates suggest maturity is reached at 2-3 years, at a size of 75-80 mm in length (Bruce et al., 1999).
Spotted handfish have a low breeding capacity and dispersal rate. Females lay 80-200 eggs held together by threads (Last and Bruce, 1996–97) and attached to small, vertical, semi-rigid structures on the seafloor, such as stalked ascidians (Sycozoa sp.), seagrasses, sponges, algae and polychaete worm tubes (DPIWE, 2002). Females guard eggs for 6–7 weeks (Bruce, 1998) until they hatch into fully formed juveniles (Pogonoski et al., 2002). Spawning is from September to October