Emerging global issues : Australian scientists trialling ocean temperature forecasts for fish farms

Marine scientists are trialling the first near-shore water temperature forecasts to assist Australia's aquaculture farm managers contending with rising ocean temperatures, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to NACA.

While land farmers have used seasonal forecasting for nearly a decade, marine farmers in south-east Australia have sought the technology for a region identified as a climate change hotspot, with rates of ocean warming up to four times the global average.

CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship scientist, Dr Alistair Hobday, said the project, funded through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, is a response to requests by Tasmania's four major salmon companies for short-term ocean forecasts for their farm sites.