More than 200 critically endangered red handfish have been successfully bred in a captive breeding program in southern Tasmania since 2022. Scientists

Hundreds of baby red handfish 'thriving' in captive-breeding program in Tasmania, IMAS scientists say

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2025-01-02 13:00:04

More than 200 critically endangered red handfish have been successfully bred in a captive breeding program in southern Tasmania since 2022.

Scientists will begin releasing the captive-bred fish into the wild next year, after they graduate from "handfish school".

The project's results are "promising", but the scientists have said the ongoing survival of the species is also dependant on managing and restoring natural habitats.

More than 200 of the critically endangered red handfish are now "thriving" in a captive breeding program, which is in the safe hands of scientists at the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).

Andrew Trotter, research and co-lead on the project, said the program's success was vital to safeguarding the fish's future.

Only about 100 red handfish are estimated to be left living in the wild, and they are all believed to call waters south-east of Hobart home.