National Science Week: Tackling the big topics

Climate-driven changes in the marine environment are accelerating with record high sea surface temperatures and record low Antarctic sea ice being recorded this year. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is working closely with world-leading scientists at CSIRO to understand what this means for Australia’s fisheries both now and into the future.

Fishers watch environmental cues in the ocean closely and are already seeing changes in currents, water temperature, and the location of species. Scientific projections are predicting that these changes will continue and accelerate over the next 20 years, together with stronger and more variable storms, new toxins and diseases, increased acidification and further sea levels rises.

AFMA is supporting a range of research projects across different fisheries to improve our understanding of existing and predicted impacts. Scientists are also teaming up with the fishing industry to improve the availability of environmental data by installing data loggers on fishing gear. 

Changing rainfall patterns in northern Australia will have an impact on the Northern Prawn Fishery. To ensure management can adapt to this increased variability, scientists at CSIRO are developing an ecological model to show how different environmental factors influence the abundance of tiger prawns. The results of this work will support improvements in fishery stock assessments and will also inform industry and our fishery managers of which environmental changes need to be monitored and forecasted. 

Southern Australian waters are a global climate change hotspot. Ocean temperatures in the region have already increased by 1.2°C since 1950 and marine heatwave conditions are expected for more than 200 days a year by 2050. CSIRO research vessel, RV Investigator, recently conducted a survey of marine biodiversity and habitats in the waters of southeast Australia. The survey, led by CSIRO and supported by AFMA, is one in a series of surveys that will provide insight into ecosystem changes in the region, including water temperature, current speed and species distribution. This is important information to support AFMA’s management of fisheries in the south east, both now and into the future. 

Importantly, AFMA is working with all of our stakeholders to ensure that available science on predicted climate impacts, together with information on changes in the marine environment, is considered in discussions and decision-making throughout our management processes.