NESP MB Project A10: Spotted and Red Handfish Monitoring Data, 2016-2020

Monitoring and conservation data for Critically Endangered Spotted and Red Handfish in southern Tasmania from 2016 to 2020. The project, led by IMAS and CSIRO, used georeferenced photographic surveys with GPS and individual spot-pattern identification. Outputs include density estimates, capture-mark-recapture analysis, and assessments of conservation actions like artificial spawning habitat.

Use Cases

• Estimate population density and trends based on georeferenced photographic survey data.
• Analyze individual movement and connectivity between sub-populations using capture-mark-recapture methods.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of conservation actions like ceramic artificial spawning habitat replacement.
• Conduct population viability analysis to inform future recovery planning.
• Assess genetic diversity and structure to support captive breeding programs.

Strengths

• Data collection spans a multi-year period from 2016 to 2020.
• Uses an innovative, detailed survey method involving GPS tracking and individual spot-pattern identification.
• Project scope includes direct conservation actions informed by monitoring, such as habitat replacement and mooring assessment.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, IMAS, CSIRO

Collection Method

Georeferenced photographic surveys using towed floats, GPS tracking, and individual spot-pattern identification, supplemented by genetic studies and population viability analysis.

Time Range

2016-2020

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-23 05:39:17.221665; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Southern Tasmania, specifically the Derwent and D’Entrecasteaux estuaries.