The Australian National Recovery Plan for Three Handfish Species covers the Spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus), Red handfish (Thymichthys politus) and Ziebell’s handfish (Brachiopsilus ziebelli). It considers the conservation requirements of these species across their ranges and identifies the actions to be taken to ensure the species’ long-term viability in nature, and the parties that will undertake those actions.
The plan sets out the research and management actions necessary to stop the decline, and support the recovery, of the three handfish species. The objectives are to ensure ecologically functional wild populations of spotted handfish, and to increase understanding of the biology and ecology of Spotted handfish, Red handfish and Ziebell’s handfish in order to conserve and contribute to the future recovery of each species.
