New research led by CSIRO Chief Research Scientist and Sea Change Australia’s Dr Alistair Hobday is reshaping how fisheries are assessed in southeast Australia, one of the world’s fastest-warming ocean regions. As ocean temperatures rise, fish are changing how they grow, mature and where they are found – meaning some biological data used in stock assessments, much of it dating back to the 1990s, may no longer reflect current conditions.

Through FRDC Project 2022-032, Dr Hobday and his team are updating key biological parameters for priority species in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF). By comparing historical samples with new data from recent surveys, the research reveals widespread shifts in fish size, weight and growth patterns – changes that directly influence estimates of stock productivity and sustainability.

The project also applies modern genetic techniques to reassess stock structure. Population genomics research confirms that species such as Tiger Flathead and Jackass Morwong function as single, well-connected stocks across southeast Australia, supporting current management approaches and reducing uncertainty for fisheries managers.

Alongside improving stock assessments, the project is building long-term capacity by training early-career scientists in contemporary survey, ageing and genomic methods. Together, this work aims to ensure fisheries management keeps pace with rapid environmental change and remains fit-for-purpose under future climate conditions.

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