Strategy 4 - Improve knowledge of the distribution, abundance and population trends of spotted, red and Ziebell’s handfish Research actions Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible Indicative Cost Parties *priority 1 only 4a Build a 2 A photographic database, with a Research - photographic method of identifying and community database to cataloguing individual handfish, is DotE identify created. DPIPWE individual fish A central repository for the database observed for is established and a portal created all handfish to new photographic records to species. be verified and added. The database is managed to ensure quality controls are maintained and recaptures are identified. 4b Increase 2 Knowledge of population dynamics Research - understanding is significantly increased for all community of population DPIPWE handfish species. dynamics (pop Base measures of current size, age/size population size and age/class classes, structure are identified, and dispersal rate) dispersal rates are assessed. for all handfish species. On-ground actions Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible Indicative Cost Parties *priority 1 only Conduct 1 All known locations for spotted Research $105 000 4c surveys within handfish, as identified in this community (surveying to the known, recovery plan, have been Volunteer identify extant likely and dive groups populations of systematically surveyed to confirm historical current distribution. DPIPWE spotted handfish) ranges of all All locations that are considered handfish $20 000-40 000 viable for supporting extant species to pa (two year populations of red handfish or improve surveying project Ziebell’s handfish are identified. knowledge of to identify extant the current populations of red All viable locations identified have distribution of and Ziebell’s been systematically surveyed, by each species. handfish) experienced divers, to detect the presence/absence of red handfish and Ziebell’s handfish. Estimates of abundance are calculated for all identified populations of spotted handfish, red handfish and Ziebell’s handfish.
Strategy 4 - Improve knowledge of the distribution, abundance and population trends of spotted, red and Ziebell’s handfish Research actions Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible Parties Indicative Cost *priority 1 only 4a Build a photographic database to identify individual fish observed for all handfish species. 2 A photographic database, with a method of identifying and cataloguing individual handfish, is created. A central repository for the database is established and a portal created to new photographic records to be verified and added. The database is managed to ensure quality controls are maintained and recaptures are identified. Research community DotE DPIPWE - 4b Increase understanding of population dynamics (pop size, age/size classes, dispersal rate) for all handfish species. 2 Knowledge of population dynamics is significantly increased for all handfish species. Base measures of current population size and age/class structure are identified, and dispersal rates are assessed. Research community DPIPWE - On-ground actions Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible Parties Indicative Cost *priority 1 only 4c Conduct surveys within the known, likely and historical ranges of all handfish species to improve knowledge of the current distribution of each species. 1 All known locations for spotted handfish, as identified in this recovery plan, have been systematically surveyed to confirm current distribution. All locations that are considered viable for supporting extant populations of red handfish or Ziebell’s handfish are identified. All viable locations identified have been systematically surveyed, by experienced divers, to detect the presence/absence of red handfish and Ziebell’s handfish. Estimates of abundance are calculated for all identified populations of spotted handfish, red handfish and Ziebell’s handfish. Research community Volunteer dive groups DPIPWE $105 000 (surveying to identify extant populations of spotted handfish) $20 000-40 000 pa (two year surveying project to identify extant populations of red and Ziebell’s handfish)
recovery-plan-three-handfish-species.docx