Climate change is already impacting species from a range of trophic levels around Australia. In recent years, shifts in species distribution have been documented at a range of lower trophic levels in Australia (Hobday et al 2007), including phytoplankton (Thompson et al 2009), intertidal invertebrates (Pitt et al 2010), and coastal fish (Last et al 2010), and are now underpinning management responses. However, for Australia’s iconic higher trophic level conservation-dependent marine taxa, such as seabirds (and shorebirds) and marine mammals, there is a knowledge gap regarding responses to climate variability and change. These species are protected throughout Australia and in some cases are recovering from previous anthropogenic impacts. Resolution of climate change impacts from other anthropogenic threats is needed for these species, in order to implement appropriate and timely adaptive management responses. Unfortunately, for most species, evidence of responses to environmental variability and the functional processes driving these affects is limited (but see References in Attachment 1). This is seen by managers as a major impediment to ongoing conservation management and planning in the face of climate variability and change. In addition, monitoring approaches for some of these species may also need to be reassessed and modified in order to better detect the impacts of climate change. Efficient ongoing monitoring is also required to allow adaptation responses to be validated. Results from this proposal will support adaptation by researchers undertaking the monitoring and adaptation by managers. Furthermore, options for enhancing the adaptive capacity of species impacted by climate change will fostered as a result of this project. (References provided in Attachment 1).

Australian fisheries are small by world standards, in terms of production, but have a large geographic, ecological, social and political footprint. Wild fisheries production averaged around 160,000 tonnes per annum between 2010-11 and 2012-13. The National Marine Science Plan notes that Australia needs to address our current and potential future gaps in food self-sufficiency and improve production as part of reducing our reliance on imports, as we currently import 72 per cent of our seafood. However, it has been reported in recent years that there is little scope for an overall increase in wild fisheries production. For example in Working Together: the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy 2010, it states “little opportunity exists to increase the volume from wild-catch fisheries”. Such statements have never been formally tested and could, if they are believed, constrain future investment by government and industry.
The aim of this project is to take the first national look at what sustainable national fisheries production could be. The project will consider catches of key commercial species at suitable target reference points. If, for a particular fishery or species, these are not identified then Bmsy will be the default. In addition, the potential for increased catches of selected by-product and by-catch species will also be considered. All jurisdictions will contribute to the project. The focus of this proposal is on the biological sustainability and limits to sustainable catches in the long term. Other factors such as whether there is a market for the potential production and whether the economic value will be optimal if production is maximized are clearly important, along with other market and economic issues, but will not be considered here.
This proposed project can be seen as a first stage. A second stage may be required if it is determined that there is potential for a large increase in production. A second stage project would look at species interactions (that could prevent all species being fished at their target reference points simultaneously), implications of an increased fishery footprint required to achieve the extra catch, and market issues.

The LCF and MSF have indicated that they want to reconnect consumers with local sources of seafood, for enhanced freshness, food safety and assurance of sustainable fishing methods, including creating new markets for independent fisher suppliers, while at the same time allowing consumers to invest in their community and nearby ecosystems. Overall the LCF and MSF want to convey the contribution they make to the local and regional economy, in particular supporting healthy communities and local fishers being environmental stewards of the resource. Having said this, the LCF and MSF have limited capacity, skills and tools to facilitate or build upon this reconnection. In addition to this, recently commissioned research by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture found the seafood industry is not front of mind for consumers.