Groups Call For Action On Handfish

July 29, 2004

Release from: Australian Associated Press

The World Conservation Union has called on the federal government to take urgent action to save Tasmania's endangered "walking fish" from extinction.

The plight of the fish has been on the agenda since the mid-1990s but not enough has been done to address its future.

"Tasmania is home to this wonderful and highly endangered marine creature but it is likely that it will disappear before Tasmanians will come to appreciate its unique features," the union's Regional Councillor for Oceania Christine Milne said.

Ms Milne called on federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell to release a five-year Recovery Plan and allocate funding to conduct research, toxicity trials, survey work and raise public awareness of the species.

The Spotted Handfish is found only in the Derwent estuary and adjoining bays and channels around Hobart.

But heavy metal contamination, human effluent, and the northern Pacific sea star have all been blamed for causing the population to slide to critical levels, the union said. Advertisement Advertisement

The fish, which grows to about 15cm, can swim but prefers to walk on fins, which make it look as though it is using hands and legs.

In 1996, it became the first marine fish to be listed under the endangered Species Protection Act and has been classed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union.

The union said there were only three small colonies of less than 200 adult fish left in Tasmania.

CSIRO's Mark Green, who heads up the organisation's Spotted Handfish recovery effort, also said there were ongoing threats to the species which needed to be addressed.

"Heavy metals from the development site may disrupt the two known colonies in the Derwent estuary, which will pose an unacceptable threat to the species," Mr Green said.

The latest report on the health of the Derwent released by the state government last year showed clear improvements in the river's health over the past five years.

But heavy metal levels in sediments and shellfish were still well above recommended national guidelines.

In response, the state and federal governments last year announced a $560,000 project to identify the worst-affected areas and how best to avoid further heavy metal contamination.