Barramundi-associated industries are integral to the socio-economic health of tropical communities. This species supports a strong commercial and aquaculture fishery (~$80 million) and has high societal value being the major recreationally targeted fish in tropical waters (valued at ~$50 million) and is intrinsically important to indigenous culture. In QLD, barramundi is the fastest growing aquaculture sector (~ 21% p.a).

For barramundi there is a need to understand future climate patterns, their impact on distribution, carrying capacities and local abundances within the commercial/recreational fisheries, as well as the threats and opportunities for aquaculture. Current climate-orientated models are restricted to the QLD wild fishery and these predictions need to be extended to NT and WA, and the aquaculture landscape. In QLD, catch rates are linked to climate variability (Balston 2009a, 2009b) and the abundance/connectivity of climate sensitive wetland/mangrove habitats (Meynecke et al 2008). Pond-based aquaculture often already experiences summer water temperatures above those for optimum growth. However, no estimates on climate induced vulnerability of the whole fishery, or on current land and sea-based aquaculture (geophysical, physiological and nutritional impacts), are available, and the capacity for the aquaculture industry to selectively breed for tolerance to altered temperature regimes is unknown. These needs strongly align with those identified in the Marine Biodiversity Adaptation Plan as highest priority for the various sectors. The proposed R&D has strong stakeholder support from commercial, recreational and aquaculture stakeholders, as well as serving as a model for understanding altered climatic regimes in other tropical in-shore finfish.