Assessment of the ecological vulnerability of the East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery to climate change: a brief synthesis of information and results of an expert workshop

Abstract

This vulnerability assessment report is a synthesis of information and a preliminary assessment of the ecological vulnerability to climate change of selected components of the Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery (ECOTF). The report also incorporates results from an expert workshop, which refined the assessment.... All of the ecological components were assessed as having a high level of ecological vulnerability to at least one of the selected climate change variables in the 20 to 50 year time frame of the assessment. Saucer scallops were assessed as having a high vulnerability to five of the climate change variables, some species of sea snakes [incidental catch] to three variables, red-spot king prawns, Balmain bugs and Habitat 10 [upper continental slope] to two variables, and the other components to a single variable. The biology and habitat associations of each species influences which climate variables are most important...