When it comes to adapting to climate change, the science alone isn’t enough. A new paper by Sea Change Australia team member, Jess Melbourne-Thomas from CSIRO and Centre for Marine Socioecology, recently published in Environmental Conservation, finds that people working in biodiversity conservation across Australia have a strong and largely unmet appetite for accessible, credible stories about adaptation – what’s been tried, what’s worked, and what hasn’t.

Surveying 80 conservation professionals, the researchers found that examples of both successes and failures were valued by around 90% of respondents, with a clear preference for brief, browsable formats that allow people to quickly identify relevant examples and dig deeper when needed.

The findings have direct relevance for how initiatives like Sea Change Australia approach science communication. The paper argues that stories serve a dual function: they help practitioners learn from each other’s experience, and they give people the tools to communicate complex adaptation challenges to decision-makers and communities.

 In a world where past conditions are an increasingly poor guide to the future, sharing practical experience through credible, engaging stories may be one of the smartest investments the seafood sector can make. Sea Change Australia is already sharing practical adaptation stories and observations from across the seafood sector. Browse these examples on the website, and if you’ve noticed changes in your region, implemented an adaptation strategy, or have a climate question you’d like explored, consider contributing your own experience through the Sea Change Australia platform.

Find the full article here.