Media
release - 6 October 2008 - Projected changes
in temperature, ocean currents, rainfall
and extreme weather events due to climate
change are likely to significantly influence
fish stocks and marine ecosystems, a new
report shows.
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, released
the CSIRO Implications of Climate Change
for Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture
report in Sydney today.
“The report is a preliminary
assessment of the challenges posed by climate
change to Australia’s $2.1 billion commercial
fishing and aquaculture industry,” Senator
Wong said.
“The report finds climate
change is likely to affect not only the
fishing industry itself, but also the regional
and coastal communities the industry supports.
“It finds climate change
impacts will vary by region and that many
impacts are expected to be negative, with
some data suggesting that effects may have
already occurred.
“But the report finds
there may be new opportunities for some
wild fisheries where tropical species shift
southward.”
Senator Wong said the
report was another reminder of the need
to tackle climate change through reducing
carbon pollution.
“The Rudd Government
is currently working on the final design
of our Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme,
to be released in a White Paper by the end
of the year.”
Report findings of the
potential impact of climate change on Australian
fisheries include:
Spread of the long-spined
sea urchin south along the east coast of
Tasmania, with serious implications for
the Tasmanian rock lobster and abalone fisheries
which together were worth over $150 million
in 2004-05.
Considerable impacts
on northern Australian prawn fisheries (worth
$73 million in 2004-05).
Impacts on coral reefs,
such as an increased incidence of coral
bleaching, which will have flow-on effects
for fisheries based on reef-associated species,
such as coral trout and red emperor.
Adverse impacts on catches
of barramundi, prawns and mud crabs in the
northern fisheries through changes in rainfall
patterns.
The report is available
from www.climatechange.gov.au/impacts
+ More
Water market regulations
finalised
Media release - 3 October
2008 - The Federal Executive Council today
approved the Water Amendment Regulations
2008, which set out the process the Minister
for Water will follow in making water market
and water charge rules.
Under the Water Act
2007, the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC) has the task of advising
the Minister on draft rules to give farmers
flexibility to trade their water access
rights and help ensure more efficient and
sustainable water use across the Murray-Darling
Basin.
"The regulations
ensure that all stakeholders, including
the relevant Basin State Ministers, irrigation
infrastructure operators within the Murray-Darling
Basin, and the public, are fully consulted
on the water charge and water market rules,"
Minister for Climate, Senator Penny Wong,
said.
Members of the public
and interested stakeholders were invited
to comment on the draft regulations in April
2008. The Water Amendment Regulations 2008
have been amended as a result of these consultations.
"Many submissions
requested a longer consultation period on
the draft water market and water charge
rules. As a result, I have extended the
deadline for the ACCC to provide its advice
to the Australian Government to allow more
time for stakeholder consultation,"
Senator Wong said.
This extension has allowed
the ACCC to include an additional stage
in its consultation process and an extra
four to six weeks of public consultation.
More detailed information
regarding the issues raised by the submissions,
including responses to the issues, can be
found at www.environment.gov.au/water.
