Spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus) Known to occur: nine locations in the lower Derwent Estuary and two locations in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Likely to occur: further locations in the lower Derwent Estuary and D’Entrecasteaux Channel. 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. Marine Protected Area (IUCN category VI equivalent) State Waters Loss of spawning substrate Habitat degradation (loss of refugia and foraging/feeding habitat) Red handfish (Thymichthys politus) Known to occur: one location in Primrose Sands, Frederick Henry Bay. Likely to occur: wider area surrounding Primrose Sands, Frederick Henry Bay. 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. State Waters Loss of spawning substrate Climate change and habitat degradation Ziebell’s / Waterfall Bay handfish (Brachiopsilus ziebelli) to occur: distribution of remaining extant populations currently unknown. Likely to Waterfall Bay area of Tasman Peninsula and Bicheno region. 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. Marine Protected Area (IUCN category VI equivalent) State Waters Threats unknown * known to occur consists of all locations where the species have been sighted within the past decade, this includes biologically important areas where the species are known to breed, feed or forage. * likely to occur consists of areas where the species or species’ habitat is likely to occur, such as locations adjacent to known distribution polygons or locations where the species have been previously sighted. * may occur consists of areas where the species or species’ habitat may occur, such as historic locations and larger stretches of the coastline within the depth distribution of the species.
Strategy 2 – Reduce impacts on spotted, red and Ziebell’s handfish, and their habitat Research actions Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible Parties Indicative Cost *priority 1 only 2a Develop appropriate decision support tools and referral guidelines for coastal/marine developments. 2 The effects of coastal and marine developments on handfish survival and reproduction are considered. Clear guidance that incorporates a capacity for adaptive management, and includes mitigation measures for pollution/siltation, is developed to aid decision makers in their consideration of handfish under the assessment and approval process for marine/coastal developments. DPIPWE DotE Research community - 2b Assess red and Ziebell’s handfish for listing under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act. 1 Red handfish and Ziebell’s handfish are both assessed for listing the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (Tasmania). DPIPWE Core government business On-ground actions Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible Parties Indicative Cost *priority 1 only 2c Design and implement a program to reduce the impacts of traditional boat moorings on spotted handfish habitat. 1 Identify locations in which traditional boat moorings are impacting upon spotted handfish habitat. Investigate options for replacing public boat moorings with mooring designs. Consider developing a zoning plan restricting the use of moorings within marine protected areas. Develop best practice guidelines for the use of environmentally friendly moorings in sensitive habitats. Research community DPIPWE MAST $150 000 (Map moorings and review environmentally friendly alternatives) $90 000 (replacement of 12 moorings at Battery if impacts identified) 2d Conduct a public awareness campaign on environmental impacts of traditional boat moorings. 2 Hold community fora to educate recreational boaters, and other water users, about environmental problems associated with traditional boat moorings and best practice guidelines for upgrading to environmentally friendly moorings. Design and distribute educational pamphlets on the best practice guidelines for environmentally friendly moorings. DEP -
Strategy 4 - Improve knowledge of the distribution, abundance and population trends of spotted, red and Ziebell’s handfish Research actions Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible Parties Indicative Cost *priority 1 only 4a Build a photographic database to identify individual fish observed for all handfish species. 2 A photographic database, with a method of identifying and cataloguing individual handfish, is created. A central repository for the database is established and a portal created to new photographic records to be verified and added. The database is managed to ensure quality controls are maintained and recaptures are identified. Research community DotE DPIPWE - 4b Increase understanding of population dynamics (pop size, age/size classes, dispersal rate) for all handfish species. 2 Knowledge of population dynamics is significantly increased for all handfish species. Base measures of current population size and age/class structure are identified, and dispersal rates are assessed. Research community DPIPWE - On-ground actions Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible Parties Indicative Cost *priority 1 only 4c Conduct surveys within the known, likely and historical ranges of all handfish species to improve knowledge of the current distribution of each species. 1 All known locations for spotted handfish, as identified in this recovery plan, have been systematically surveyed to confirm current distribution. All locations that are considered viable for supporting extant populations of red handfish or Ziebell’s handfish are identified. All viable locations identified have been systematically surveyed, by experienced divers, to detect the presence/absence of red handfish and Ziebell’s handfish. Estimates of abundance are calculated for all identified populations of spotted handfish, red handfish and Ziebell’s handfish. Research community Volunteer dive groups DPIPWE $105 000 (surveying to identify extant populations of spotted handfish) $20 000-40 000 pa (two year surveying project to identify extant populations of red and Ziebell’s handfish)
Key threats are identified for each species, and presence/absence of these threats is identified for all known populations and reported to DotE and DPIPWE. On-ground actions Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible Parties Indicative Cost *priority 1 only 5d Consider options for improving habitat quality, mitigating key threats, or increasing protection within known habitat for all handfish species. 2 Identify potential methods for improving the quality of known habitat for all handfish species. Consider potential mitigation measures for all sites where threats to handfish are identified. Consider enhancing protection within known handfish habitat, including consideration of the establishment of new marine reserves or fishing exclusion zones. DPIPWE Research community - 5e Support current work to improve water quality in the Derwent Estuary. 2 Options for improving the condition of habitat identified as in poor health are considered by the HRG, in collaboration with local councils and community groups. Projects designed to improve water quality in the Derwent Estuary, and reduce future anthropogenic impacts, continue. DEP Local councils DPIPWE - 5f Encourage future investigation into potential control options for invasive northern Pacific seastars (A. amurensis). 3 Any observations of interactions between invasive seastars and handfish, that may occur during the course of population surveys or habitat health assessment, are reported to the HRG who in turn share the information with researchers investigating potential control methods for invasive species. Research community HRG DotE -
Strategy 6 - Encourage community participation in the conservation of spotted, red and Ziebell’s handfish On-ground actions Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible Parties Indicative Cost *priority 1 only 6a Develop and implement a broad strategy to raise awareness and educate the general public about conservation for all handfish species. 2 Articles about handfish conservation, including threats and recovery actions, are published in community newsletters, local bulletins and newspapers. Informative displays are developed to educate the broader community about handfish conservation. Local initiatives to clean up the Derwent are well publicised, and actions that benefit handfish are identified, so as to encourage public participation. DPIPWE DotE DEP Community groups Aquaria - 6b Develop and implement a targeted strategy to promote the use of citizen science in relation to conservation for all handfish species. 2 Articles are published in dive community newsletters and magazines to advertise the central repository for handfish observations and encourage citizen scientist involvement in handfish conservation. DPIPWE DotE Dive groups -