*All images from the University of Tasmania
Two days ago, the global red handfish population tripled after a successful spawning attempt. Red Handfish are critically endangered and one of the rarest fish on the planet. They belong to the family Brachionichthyidae and are endemic to southern Australia and Tasmania.
A one-day-old baby handfish
The University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) leads the world’s efforts in handfish conservation. The team has now had three successful back-to-back spawning events. On average, it takes around 50 days for the eggs to hatch after they’re fertilized. After this, the fry are put through feeding and conditioning protocols to raise them.
The program’s eventual goal is to begin reintroducing the species to its natural habitats in 2025, restarting wild populations.
Read more from the university program here: https://www.utas.edu.au/about/news-and-stories/articles/2024/new-hatchlings-triple-red-handfish-conservation-breeding-program-numbers?fbclid=IwY2xjawHSoPhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZ3UG6572UZob-IRnd4aC8rY9EBBqzQyNIzoHYTGfH18HZXQeiREor77-g_aem_zXZZVyi2Vx-g3st0P52csQ