The ASFB Annual Conference is the key opportunity for Fisheries Managers, Researchers, Academics ans Students to come together to discuss issues relating to Fisheries resources and conservation. In particular, the 2010 Conference and Symposium will focus on emerging issues in relation to Climate Change.

While there is a lot of general talk on climate change, this symposium aims to present some credible science and predictions that can be used as a synopsis of the likely impacts on fish and fisheries.

There are likely to be significant climate change impacts on the biological, economic, and social aspects of Australian fisheries and that there is little consolidated knowledge of the potential impacts of climate change. Both positive and negative impacts are expected, and impacts will vary according to changes in the regional environment: south-east fisheries are most likely to be affected by changes in water temperature, northern fisheries by changes in precipitation, and western fisheries by changes in the Leeuwin Current.

There may be new opportunities for some wild fisheries where tropical species shift southward. There will also be many challenges, (such as that faced by the Tasmanian salmon aquaculture industry due to Atlantic salmon being cultivated close to their upper thermal limits of optimal growth). Nevertheless, it is important that there is potential for adaptation measures to be employed by the industry.

There is a need for fisheries and aquaculture management policies to better integrate the effects of climate variability and climate change in establishing harvest levels and developing future strategies. This will enhance the resilience of marine biodiversity and the adaptive capacity of the fisheries and aquaculture industries.

Please refer to the conference sponsorship brochure (attached) to determine if there is an appropriate category for FRDC.