Climate change poses ''some very significant'' threats to Australia's $2.1billion fisheries and aquaculture industry, an official report out today reveals.
The Federal Government commissioned the CSIRO to assess the impact of climate change on the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong will today issue the study, which shows changes in temperature, ocean currents, rainfall and extreme weather events are likely to significantly affect fish stocks and marine ecosystems.
''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,'' Senator Wong said.
''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.''
The Australian fishing zone is one of the largest in the world.
The industry is important both socially and economically, generating more than $2billion in 2005-06, according to the CSIRO.
''Climate change is likely to bring a range of both opportunities and challenges to the sector, but overall it would seem that it will pose some very significant risks to the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in Australia,'' the report stated.
''There is, however, little consolidated knowledge of the potential impacts.''
The CSIRO identified a range of potential impacts on the commercial fisheries and aquaculture industry. Climate change could impede production in Australia's cooler southern waters, particularly the Tasmanian salmon industry, which was worth $221million in 2005-06 and accounts for 30 per cent of this country's aquaculture production.
The long-spined sea urchin could spread south along the east coast of Tasmania, with serious implications for rock lobster and abalone fisheries that generated more than $150million in 2004-05.
It could take a significant toll on northern prawn fisheries worth $73million in 2004-05 and coral reefs.
Coral bleaching, which affected species such as coral trout and red emperor, could become increasingly common.
Catches of prawns, barramundi and mud crabs in the northern fisheries could be harmed as a result of changes in rainfall.
''Australia has a number of other fisheries that were not considered in this review: general climate impacts in a region will likely have impacts on these fisheries too,'' the report stated.
''Stakeholders may explore likely impacts to these other fisheries by considering the general physical changes in the region together with documented impacts on similar fisheries in the region and elsewhere.
''From this review it is apparent that climate change will impact the biological, economic and social aspects of many fisheries.''
Senator Wong said the report reinforced the need to tackle climate change.
''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,'' she said.