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Climate change impacts on south-east Australian fisheries

Australia’s south east is a climate change ‘hotspot’, with marine waters warming at more than three times the global average. Warming will affect Australia’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors in different ways, according to the El Nemo South East Australia Program (SEAP).

An example of one of the El Nemo SEAP fact sheets (left) on how different fisheries and aquaculture sectors will be impacted by climate change (download the El Nemo fact sheets below). 

Adapted from the FRDC website:

Australia's south-east fisheries are located within a known climate change 'hotspot', and will be impacted by marine warming in various ways. It's predicted that the East Australian Current (EAC) will push several species further south, potentially improving offshore fishing opportunities for pelagic species. But the climate shift threatens species including abalone, creating significant challenges for sustainable fisheries management.

The El Nemo South East Australia Program (SEAP) is helping fisheries and aquaculture sectors in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania to manage risks and adapt to change.

El Nemo is a collaborative program established by the FRDC with its partners to start to address and deal with marine climate change. The program recognises that marine and aquatic environments are expected to experience significant climate driven changes in the southern hemisphere over the next century. It also recognises that the threats and opportunities that may be experienced by Australian fisheries and aquaculture sectors will depend on how well prepared and adaptable the sectors and fisheries managers are to respond.

Check out these El Nemo facts sheets on the impacts of marine climate change on certain fisheries:

·         The Impact on SE Australian Abalone Fisheries [PDF]

·         The Impact on SE Australian Blue Grenadier Fishery [PDF]

·         The Impact on SE Australian Blue Mussel Aquaculture [PDF]

·         The Impact on SE Australian Pacific Oyster Aquaculture [PDF]

·         The Impact on SE Australian Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture [PDF]

·         The Impact on SE Australian Snapper Fisheries [PDF]

·         The Impact on SE Australian Southern Rock Lobster Fisheries [PDF]

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