Industry-focused and co-developed marine heatwave response plans are needed for enhancing climate resilience: Application to a vulnerable abalone industry

Abstract

The increasing strength and frequency of marine heatwaves is threatening the viability of vulnerable fisheries. Industry-focused marine heatwave response plans can reduce sensitivity and enhance the adaptive capacity of fisheries to climate extremes, but few such plans exist globally. Stakeholder knowledge elicitation is a core pillar of industry-focused marine heatwave response plans to ensure they are fit-for-purpose and are readily adopted by industry. We present the first marine heatwave response plan for an abalone industry; the eastern Australian abalone industry, that was co-developed in consultation with stakeholders whose knowledge of previous impacts of extreme thermal events and existing autonomous adaptation actions guided key components of the plan. This plan encompasses five core components: an early warning system, a response level assessment, example response actions and communications and capacity building strategies. Engagement with fisheries managers identified key capacity building pathways for incorporating marine heatwave preparedness into formal regulatory processes including harvest strategies and quota setting. We also present lessons learnt from the first enactment of this plan and recommendations for adapting this plan for other climate-vulnerable industries. This response plan for a climate-vulnerable industry demonstrates the capacity for co-developed, industry-focused plans to facilitate targeted and effective responses to marine heatwave events.