Climate Change

Our climate is changing.

There is new and stronger evidence that the earths climate has changed and that this change has accelerated in recent decades.

Fisheries and aquaculture sectors are expected to face unprecedented challenges due to climate change.

In their 'Implications of Climate Change for Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture' (external link) report, the CSIRO concludes that Victoria’s south eastern coastal waters are among the most vulnerable in Australia to the impacts of climate change and the drought conditions already being experienced in Victoria’s inland waterways are expected to continue.

Without adequate preparation, understanding and adaptation to the changes, our ecologically sustainable and viable fisheries and aquaculture sectors will be at risk and opportunities will be lost.

It is vital that we ensure Victoria’s fisheries are sustainably managed in the long term.

How do we prepare for the challenges ahead?

Victoria’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors are important to Victoria. They make a significant contribution to the Victorian regional economy and provide important leisure opportunities. It is vital that we prepare for these changes. If we don’t, the sustainability of our fisheries resources will be adversely affected and we may miss opportunities that arise.

The Victorian Climate Change Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture 2008-2018 will provide future direction for activities related to climate change.

Implementation of this Strategy will be supported by the Adaptation of fisheries and fisheries management to climate change program which was funded from the Future Farming strategy to boost services, drive growth and innovation and to assist farming, fisheries and aquaculture sectors respond to new challenges.

National Climate Change Action Plan for Fisheries and Aquaculture

The National Climate Change Action Plan for Fisheries and Aquaculture has been endorsed by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council and the  Commonwealth Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Mike Kelly. The Plan can be downloaded below.

The Action Plan is relevant to all Australian jurisdictions and  fisheries, and was developed in close collaboration with the wild catch fishing and aquaculture sectors,  and the Australian, state and Northern Territory governments.

It recognises that as our knowledge and understanding of likely  climate change impacts evolves, our ability to adapt will improve. Accordingly, the actions in the  plan provide fishers, managers and researchers with a broad, principles-based response framework  in which to develop responsesappropriate to the diverse needs of various fisheries.

Implementation of the plan will benefit from a regionally and  nationally coordinated approach, involving the Australian, State and Territory governments, in partnership  with the fisheries sectors and their representatives and other relevant groups.

Fisheries Victoria  is the coordinator for the South East Regional Program, which together with the Tropical and Western underpin the  National Action Plan.

Climate Change Fishing Change Interactive

Learn more about climate change impacts on fisheries by exploring this education resource.