© 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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Southern Velvetfish / Velvetfish

Family Name:	Aploactinidae
Scientific Name:	Aploactisoma milesii (Richardson, 1850)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient, possibly Least Concern
Rationale:  Southern Velvetfish is included here because (i) the inshore distribution, benthic nature and strong habitat association of this species may make some populations susceptible to site-specific impacts. For example, in S.A. the species has been previously recorded in parts of northern Spencer and also the metropolitan coast of Gulf St Vincent, and both regions have been subject to extensive habitat modification and degradation during the past century; (ii) the species may also be a minor part of the bycatch of inshore trawl fisheries, but data are lacking; (iii) in Tasmania, it is part of a developing aquarium trade in unusual, temperate marine fish species; and (iv) there is little known about the biology, habits, population dynamics of Velvetfish, and insufficient knowledge of the relative abundance of this species in many parts of the geographical range. Currently, the recommended classification is Data Deficient, because an assessment of potential population impacts of threatening processes (target catch, bycatch, habitat degradation) has not been undertaken. Following that, if there is no evidence for decline over space and time, then the recommended classification would be Least Concern, due to the broad geographic distribution of this species across southern Australia (including much of the S.A. coast).

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

Southern Australia

The Velvetfish is broadly distributed across southern Australia, from northern New South Wales through to the central coast of W.A., including Tasmania (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Edgar, 2000; Australian Museum, 2006g).

South Australia

Most records from South Australia are from the gulfs region. Examples of locations in S.A. from where the species has been recorded include the Ceduna area of the west coast / eastern Great Australian Bight; northern Spencer Gulf (e.g. Middle Bank channel, Port Pirie area, Tiparra Reef, Port Hughes) southern Spencer Gulf (e.g. Point Bolingbroke, Point Turton); western Gulf St Vincent (e.g. Stansbury, Port Giles and Edithburgh); metropolitan Gulf St Vincent (e.g. Glenelg area), Encounter Bay, and northern Kangaroo Island (e.g. American Beach, Kingscote, and other locations) (Hureau, 1991; Anonymous, 1999; Swedish Museum of Natural History, 1999; Fairhead et al., 2002a; photographs by J. Lewis, 2004; A. Suslin, unpubl. data 2003, cited by K. Smith, pers. comm., 2005; Australian Anglers Association, 2005; S. Leske, Reef Watch, pers. comm. 2006; South Australian Museum records, cited in OZCAM database, 2007).
A number of specimens housed in overseas museums, came from the metropolitan area of Gulf St Vincent during the late 1800s (e.g. Hureau, 1991; Anonymous, 1999; Swedish Museum of Natural History, 1999).

Habitat

The Velvetfish lives in protected waters such as coastal bays and deep estuaries (Potter et al., 1990; Edgar, 2000; Australian Museum, 2006g). It is mostly found in sheltered and moderately exposed areas with reefs and sand (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Edgar, 2000), between rocks and sponges, or partly buried in sand, surrounding rocks and macroalgae (Australian Museum, 2006g). It has also been recorded under jetties (e.g. S. Leske, Reef Watch, unpubl. data, 2006).
In addition to reef areas, Velvetfish are also found in seagrass beds (Edgar, 2000). At Flinders I. off Tasmania (Jordan et al., 1998), and at Port Gawler in S.A. (G. Edgar, unpubl. data, 1992, cited by G. Edgar, pers. comm., 2006), the species has been recorded in Posidonia australis seagrass. In parts of W.A., the species has also been recorded in shallow, sandy surf zones (Ayvazian and Hyndes, 1995).
The depth range is about 1m – 30m (Edgar, 2000).

Notes on the Biology

Growth

The Velvetfish grows to about 23cm (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Australian Museum, 2006b).
One of the maximum sizes recorded is 0.021kg, being a specimen caught off Point Bolingbroke in S.A., in 1973 (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Australian Anglers Association, 2005).

Reproduction

Little is known of spawning mode in velvetfishes (Leis, 2005). A few larvae of fishes in this family have been described (Kojima, 1988; Leis and Carson-Ewart, 2000; Leis et al., 2004, cited by Leis, 2005), and specialisations to pelagic life include the extremely large, early forming pectoral fins, and the extensive head spination (the latter of which is largely retained by adults) (Leis, 2005).

Other Information

The species has a thick, velvety skin covered with filaments and other protrusions, and this feature, along with the variability in skin colour and pattern, assists in camouflage.

Fisheries / Trade Information

The Velvetfish A. milesii is sold in the aquarium trade. In 2005, specimens from southern Australia were available for export, with price on application (Ryan and Clarke, 2005).
The species may be vulnerable to trawl bycatch in some areas but no data are available. It is noted that the species has been collected from the area of Spencer Gulf between Cowell and Wallaroo (Museum of Victoria record from 1969, cited in OZCAM database, 2005), and waters deeper than 10m in that region are part of the Spencer Gulf prawn trawling grounds (e.g. see Carrick, 1997). Velvetfish was more recently recorded in a trawl survey in the snapper grounds of upper Spencer Gulf (P. Jennings, SARDI, unpublished survey data, 2003).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species and Threatening Processes

The inshore distribution and benthic nature of this species in southern Australia may make some populations susceptible to site-specific impacts in some areas. For example, the species has been previously recorded in parts of northern Spencer Gulf (a region that has been subject to long term habitat damage in the nearshore area – see Baker, 2004 for summary of impacts), and the metropolitan coast of Gulf St Vincent (e.g. Glenelg area), which has also been subject to extensive habitat modification and decline in habitat quality (e.g. Shepherd, 1970; Hart, 1996, 1997, Cheshire et al., 1998; Cheshire and Westphalen, 2000; Westphalen et al., 2005). The species was recently recorded from beam trawl sampling at Port Giles in western Gulf St Vincent, as part of a site assessment for a dredging program (Fairhead et al., 2002a).
Due to the occurrence of this species in nearshore, soft bottom habitats (including the gulfs region of S.A.), it may be vulnerable to capture in prawn trawls, but no data are available.
There is no knowledge of reproduction in this species. If dispersal is low, and recruitment of the next generation is localised, then that mode of reproduction may increase the vulnerability of populations to site-specific impacts.

Research and Management Requirements

There is little information known about the biology, habits, population dynamics of this species, and insufficient knowledge of the relative abundance of this species in many parts of the geographical range.
In S.A., presence of this species in prawn trawl bycatch should be recorded over space and time.
Dredging and channel clearing programs need to be conscious of the potential presence of cryptic, benthic fish species such as Velvetfishes.
The annual take of this species for the aquarium trade should be documented over space and time, and sustainability assessments should be undertaken. The potential for illegal collecting of this species should also be monitored and prevented.
Ongoing efforts are required to restore the degraded benthic habitats where this species occurs, particularly Gulf St Vincent and northern Spencer Gulf.

Other Information

The species is considered to be reasonably common, but not often seen due to its cryptic appearance (Edgar, 2000).
The Velvetfish is a fairly popular subject for marine photographers in southern Australia.