© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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Goblinfish / Goblin Fish

Family Name:	Tetrarogidae
Scientific Name:	Glyptauchen panduratus (Richardson, 1850)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  The Goblin Fish is included here because (i) it is a benthic species with strong site association in shallow marine habitats (including S.A. gulf waters), and may thus be vulnerable to population decline due to habitat impacts in some coastal areas; (ii) it is usually found solitary, which may indicate low densities per given area, and benthic fishes in general have limited mobility and localised reproduction, which are vulnerable population characteristics; (iii) very little is known of the relative abundance, biology, ecology, and population dynamics of this species; and (iv) the species is part of the bycatch in trawl fisheries, including prawn trawling in South Australian waters.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

no listings known

Distribution

Southern Australia

The Goblinfish is the single member of a monotypic genus, and is widely distributed along the southern Australian coast. Recorded in New South Wales (from Sydney southwards), Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia (from Rottnest Island southwards) (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994; Kuiter, 1996b).
The species was commonly encountered during recent subtidal surveys of nearshore reefs in Victoria (Edmunds and Hart, 2003).
In W.A., Goblinfish has been recorded in the Recherche Archipelago, and is noted as being rarely recorded in other parts of that State (W.A. Museum, 2003; Hutchins, 2005).

South Australia

Most published records of the species in S.A. are from the gulfs region. Examples of locations in S.A where the species has been recorded, include northern Anxious Bay / Venus Bay area off western Eyre Peninsula; northern Spencer Gulf (e.g. Port Broughton area); northern Spencer Gulf (e.g. Middle Bank channel); mid-western Spencer Gulf (e.g. Port Neill); south-central Spencer Gulf; south-western Spencer Gulf (e.g. Dutton Bay, and Port Lincoln area); northern Kangaroo Island; “heel” of Yorke Peninsula (e.g. Edithburgh, and other locations), and Gulf St Vincent (with examples of the latter including Grange Tyre Reef; Glenelg; Port Noarlunga, Aldinga area, and the southern Fleurieu Peninsula) (Glover, 1979; Hureau, 1991; Anonymous, 1993, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2007; photograph by S. Hutchison, 1999; K. Smith, unpublished data, 2000; photographs by J. Lewis, 2004; South Australian Museum records, cited in OZCAM database, 2007).

Habitat

Glyptauchen panduratus is found on sheltered to moderately exposed coastal reefs (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986), and in the seaward part of rocky estuaries. The species resides in mixed rock, sand, shell and/or rubble habitat, and on vegetated or encrusted reefs, where it is well camouflaged. Goblinfish are also found under rocks, in crevices, in rock pools, and under jetties / piers, where they can conceal themselves (Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994; Kuiter, 1996b; Edgar, 2000; South Australian Museum records, cited in OZCAM database, 2004; dive reports from Victoria, S.A. and W.A., 1999-2005).
The species has been recorded from the shallow subtidal to at least 60m (Kuiter, 1996b; Edgar, 2000).

Notes on the Biology and Behaviour

Other than the size, behaviour and feeding habits of this species, very little is known of the biology.

Growth

Glyptauchen panduratus grows to around 20cm (Kuiter, 1996b; Edgar, 2000) or 21cm (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986, 2001).

Diet

The Goblinfish feeds on crustaceans, which it hunts at night (Kuiter, 1996a, 1996b).

Behaviour

The species is nocturnal (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986), and hides under rock slabs or in crevices during the day (Kuiter, 1996b).
The species rarely swims, and moves along the substrate in a hopping motion, using its fins (Kuiter, 1996a).

Other Information

The species has a peculiar appearance, with a deeply notched nape, a block-shaped head, and large eyes. The dorsal fin is very large, and consists of a long spinous section, followed by a short, elevated soft-rayed section. The large, broad, fan-shaped pectoral fins are used for locomotion along the substrate (Kuiter, 1996b).
The colour and markings of Goblinfish are highly variable, according to the habitat, and this species is able to change colour quickly to match the surroundings (Kuiter, 1996b). Goblin Fish are often speckled or mottled, and head and body colours include black and white, or shades of cream, grey, tan, and/or pink, amongst others.

Fisheries Information

Commercial

Goblinfish is known from trawl bycatch (May and Maxwell, 1986). The species forms a (presumably small) part of the bycatch in the Commonwealth-managed Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fisheries (SESSF) (AFMA, 2002a). The species is a minor component of the discarded bycatch in the South East Trawl Fishery. In the otter trawl sub-fishery of the South East Trawl Fishery, an Integrated Scientific Monitoring Program (ISMP) reported that in 1 trawl shot, about 5kg of Goblinfish were discarded (Wayte et al., 2004).
In Tasmania, Goblinfish is taken under permit, for the international aquarium market. Permitted annual catch numbers were not included in recent documentation on the Tasmanian aquarium fishery (e.g. DPIWE Tasmania 2005b; Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2005b).
In S.A., the species has been recorded as a component of bycatch in the Spencer Gulf prawn trawl fishery. For example, 37 Goblinfish were recorded from 32 trawl tows, in a sampling program during the mid 1990s (Carrick, 1997). More recently, specimens were collected by prawn trawl from Middle Bank channel in northern Spencer Gulf (Museum of Victoria records, 2005, cited in OZCAM database, 2007).

Recreational

The Goblinfish is not targeted by recreational fishers; however it is recorded as being taken at night, presumably unintentionally, by recreational game fishers along the southern New South Wales coast (e.g. see Grealy, undated).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species, and Threatening Processes

The Goblinfish is a benthic species with strong site association in shallow marine habitats (including S.A. gulf waters), and may thus be vulnerable to population decline due to habitat impacts in some coastal areas. In S.A., both gulfs are subject to numerous impacts that affect water quality and/or habitat quality (e.g. coastal developments; trawling; industrial, rural and residential discharges into the coastal waters, etc).
The Goblinfish is found mostly as solitary individuals, indicating that the density of this fish per area may be relatively low.
Benthic fishes in general have limited mobility, and localised reproduction, which are vulnerable population characteristics.
The species is part of the bycatch in trawl fisheries, including prawn trawling in South Australian waters. There has been little assessment of the effects of fishing on this species; however a recent draft ecological risk assessment report for the South East Trawl Fishery, listed G. panduratus as being a “medium risk” species, in terms of population impacts from trawling (Wayte et al. 2004).

Research Requirements

More information is required on the relative abundance, biology and population dynamics of this species.
The bycatch of Goblinfish in prawn trawl fisheries should be documented over space and time.

Management Requirements

Ongoing efforts to reduce the bycatch of benthic fish such as Goblinfish in trawl fisheries (including prawn trawls) are required. During the past decade, examples of various developments in the Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf prawn trawl fisheries to reduce bycatch are provided by Carrick (1997), MacDonald (1998), Broadhurst et al. (1999, 2000), PIRSA (2003), and Svane (2004).
In Tasmania, where Goblinfish is taken for the aquarium industry, an assessment of the populations, and sustainability of this practice, should be undertaken.

Other Information

The Goblinfish is possibly common in some areas, on rubble bottom, but is rarely seen due to its nocturnal habits, and also because its shape and colour provide very effective camouflage (Edgar, 2000).
G. panduratus occurs in a number of the Marine Parks and Sanctuaries in Victoria, such as Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park (Edmunds et al., 2003).
Goblinfish is one of the species that is monitored in the Reef Watch program in Victoria.
The species is occasionally observed by divers in southern Australian states, and is sought for viewing and photography, due to its unusual appearance.