Recent monitoring of the two known Red Handfish populations near Hobart, Tasmania have been conducted by the
Reef Life Survey team. The team of volunteer SCUBA divers use underwater visual census methods along a 50 m transect (detailed
HERE) to record marine life, including the elusive Red Handfish. The methods are used worldwide to record life on nearshore reefs (allowing comparison at global scales).
Like Spotted Handfish, it appears that Red Handfish have unique markings - so that when one is observed, we can tell if it has previously been sighted. From this, we can build a database of images and information about these populations.
You can read more about the
recent discovery of a new population of Red handfish by the RLS team, and the global attention this new finding received.
