A number of mysteries surround the elusive spotted handfish.
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But thanks to a partnership with Seahorse World and the CSIRO, the future of one of the world’s rarest fish is shaping up.
The Beauty Point aquarium took on a spawn of about 80 spotted handfish eggs in September last year.
The spawn was collected as an ‘ambassador population’ from the Derwent River, in order to create a captive breeding population.
Seahorse World managing director Craig Hawkins said after a few months of “intensive care” the population was now thriving.
“It started with an idea to breed a few and then get them back into the world. We have about 60 left of the original 80, which is a fantastic result,” he said.
“They required around the clock care from the beginning. It was a big commitment, but I think they are worth it.”
Spotted handfish were the first marine fish to be listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list and as its name suggests, the fish uses its fins as hands to wander along the seafloor.
There are 14 species, with seven endemic to Tasmania and the Bass Strait, but Mr Hawkins said there was still many features of the fish that weren’t understood.
“They are an anglerfish and they have a growth on their head that acts as a lure,” he said.
“But no-one seems to know what the lure is for, or how they use it exactly.
“There is so much more to learn.”
The fish will be released back into the Derwent in about 18 months.