There is a need to increase effective engagement between fishing and aquaculture stakeholders and climate science and scientists in an ongoing strategic way, and not ‘just’ for single-project outcomes.

Improved engagement will help increase understanding of the likely implications of a changing climate in relevant contexts, and lay foundations for a shared exploration of available options for reducing risk exposure. We have worked with stakeholders and the FRDC Extension Officer Network to design a strategy that will engage fishing and aquaculture stakeholders on existing knowledge regarding risks and opportunities associated with a changing climate, to enable resource managers and researchers to better understand the ways in which many sectors are already adapting autonomously and to identify the barriers to further adaptation, and to co-design solutions that are relevant at local- and industry-levels to help build climate-ready communities and to stimulate economic resilience.

In many cases (but not all), extensive information regarding marine climate change - including key risks to fisheries and aquaculture producers (at a high level) - is already available, along with information on how to develop adaptation plans. However, despite this, progress and uptake within most sectors in terms of planned adaptation responses has been very slow – although many individual operators are already making ‘autonomous’ changes to their day-to-day operations in response to climate change drivers. If these changes are being made without access to best available knowledge, then it is very likely that substantial portions of these responses are maladaptive in the longer term, or may be countervailing to planned government adaptations (see Pecl et al 2019, Ambio, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13280-019-01186-x). This is a pattern evident within many different industries around Australia and across the rest of the world. ‘What’ needs to happen has thus been outlined in general terms in many cases, but such information is not co-developed or provided in consultation with end-users in ways that resonate or are useful to them. This project will address this need for relevance and usefulness.

The project aims to develop reflexive, ongoing, and two-way knowledge exchange between industry representatives, operators and manager, and the marine climate change impacts and adaptation research sector, so that solutions are co-designed, usable, and adoptable.

The marine waters of Southeast (SE) Australia are one of a series of global ocean-warming hotspots. In this region, the East Australian Current is extending pole-wards, resulting in warming of ocean surface at a rate four times the global average. Many species have extended their distributions southward, with potential changes in local abundance. In addition, climatic extreme events, such as marine heatwaves, are leading to additional impacts in the region. Projections show that these changes, and the associated biological responses, are expected to continue in the next century.

In this hotspot lie important fisheries, providing the bulk of fresh fish to Melbourne and Sydney markets. The Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) has a total catch of about 20,000t and a value above $80 million. Concerns about the ecological, economic and social sustainability of this fishery raised in the public, and by scientists, over the years, have prompted a series of management responses, initiatives and regulations. In the hotspot also lies an Australian Marine Reserve network established to protect and maintain marine biodiversity and ensure the long-term ecological viability of Australia's marine ecosystems.

Observations from the Australian commercial fisheries regulator, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) suggests that the abundance of some species have declined, while others have increased. Additionally, some species that have been historically over-fished do not seem to be recovering despite reduced fishing pressure. The South East Australian Marine Ecosystem Survey will seek to answer the questions:

1. Despite reduced fishing pressure, have fish abundances in the SESSF really declined in 25 years? And if so, why?

2. Are species shifting their ranges to places outside of where they have been historically found, including to the continental slope?

3. What are the prospects for the future?

Comprehensive bio-physical and ecosystem assessments of the shelf were last conducted 25 years ago. This project will repeat the surveys to document changes, and will establish a new baseline for the continental slope. Specifically, it will help answer the broad questions:

1. How and why have fish assemblages and species abundances changed in the southeast ecosystem, and can the causes be mitigated?

2. How does this affect the multiple-use management of the region for fisheries, conservation and biodiversity and the hive of activity from oil & gas, and renewable energy sectors?