The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s scientists and fisheries management teams are doing their part for the vital Sea Change Australia project, funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
Sea Change Australia is bringing together recreational and commercial fishers, industry, managers and researchers across the country to share knowledge and develop climate-resilient options for strong and healthy fisheries.
The approach sees WA’s scientists work with interstate and national researchers as well as fishers on the key issues affecting the seafood sector, and importantly how to better communicate climate information.
DPIRD scientists Gary Jackson and Arani Chandrapavan are working with researchers from the University of Tasmania, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), CSIRO, and Centre for Marine Socioecology (CMS) as well as industry representatives to learn how to best share climate information and build the seafood sectors ability to adapt.
They are looking at what information and level of detail is needed, the best way to present it and any gaps that might be missing from the current understanding of climate impacts.
“This knowledge is vital to the Sea Change Australia project, harnessing the experience of recreational and commercial fishers and learning from others who are successfully adapting to the challenges of climate variations,” Dr Jackson said.
“We’re fishing for answers and the ways we can work with those who fish and the seafood sector to mitigate, adapt and find opportunities to reduce the impact of changing climate conditions here in Western Australia and across the country.
“Sea Change Australia is not only bringing researchers together, but also managers and industry to help co-develop a climate-resilient seafood sector.
“The theme for World Oceans Day this Sunday 8 June is ‘sustaining what sustains us’, and the work of Sea Change Australia is flowing strongly in that direction with a call to action to ensure strong and sustainable fisheries here in WA and interstate.”
You can find out more about Sea Change Australia online. DPIRD’s Dr Jackson and Dr Chandrapavan have taken part in an online video that explains how we can co-develop practical options for climate adaption. Sea Change Australia is also being promoted on various social media platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
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