Chapter 15: Lessons and recommendations for the climate adaptation of key Tasmanian fisheries [in: Adaptive management of fisheries in response to climate change]

The Australian fishing industry is an important component of Australia’s economy. The industry, however, is undergoing significant pressure from climate change – in particular, fisheries in the south-east Australian marine region that form the ‘powerhouse’ of Australia’s production by value and volume. As the most southern state in Australia, Tasmania lies within the south-east marine region and is experiencing the amplified effects of climate change in the form of more frequent marine heatwaves and an intensification of the poleward transport of warmer waters with the East Australian Current extension. The region is a fast-warming hotspot, warming at nearly four times the global average. Climate-driven environmental changes experienced and predicted are mostly negative, although some positive impacts are also expected. However, both negative and positive effects of climate change require fast and effective management to maximize opportunities and minimize undesirable impacts. Tasmanian fisheries management is currently reactive in responding to the effects of climate change, and the ability of management to respond is limited by resourcing and politics. This case study summarizes the fishery responses in a global temperature hotspot, provides examples of adaptations that are already underway which could be applied to other similar fisheries, and discusses key recommendations to improve the climate adaptation of Tasmanian commercial wild-catch rock lobster and abalone fisheries.