Economics of Ocean Acidification – Impacts on Fisheries and Aquaculture

south coast rock ledges

The poster linked below provides an easy to read summary of the main implications for commercial fisheries from Carbon Dioxide driven ocean acidification. It includes conclusions & recommendations from a 2012 international workshop in Monaco titled Economics of Ocean Acidification – Impacts on Fisheries and Aquaculture. By Andy Bodsworth  

Paul Krugman says we’re Gambling with Civilization

Yale Economist Professor William Nordhaus

In this eminently readable 9 page Essay, Paul Krugman, American economist & Professor of Economics and International Affairs at  Princeton University, reviews a new book The Climate Casino: Risk, Uncertainty, and Economics for a Warming World by another famous US Economist William B. Nordhaus, Professor of Economics at Yale University. Krugman’s overview is clear and compelling.  He provides an insightful, objective and […]

Cobalt Currents – Social Licence & Wild Catch Fishing: How do I Strengthen It?

Image courtesy J. Susman

This is the 3rd and final post in Cobalt’s Social Licence blog series exploring the fundamental importance of Social Licence to Operate (SL2O) to the professional wild harvest fishing industry.  This post looks at ways to build and strengthen Social Licence. To recap – Strong Social Licence will support continued operation of fishing businesses, reduce regulatory burdens, […]

CO2 driven Ocean Acidification – the Sleeping Giant

Pteropod image (C) Seattle Times

Ocean Acidification, driven primarily by massive oceanic absorption of atmospheric CO2, is already changing ocean productivity and ecosystem functioning.  It has the potential to dramatically impact some commercial fisheries, and the broader resilience of the marine environment. This up-to-date piece from the Seattle Times provides an excellent overview of what it is, how it’s impacting […]

Professor Callum Roberts – Ocean Health & Climate Change

matt's seal

Professor Callum Roberts is a marine biologist and professor of marine conservation at York University in the UK.  His David Thomas Conservation Oration, presented at the University of Sydney in early April 2013 provides an excellent overview of current pressures undermining ocean health.   He touches on impacts from noise pollution, global warming, coral reefs, predatory crabs […]

Australian Fisheries and Climate Change

OceanAcidification

CSIRO’s landmark 2008 report Implications of Climate Change for Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture – A Preliminary Assessment was commissioned by the Australian Government in collaboration with CSIRO’s Climate Adaptation Research Flagship.  It’s a comprehensive report into the status of climate change in a domestic and regional fisheries  context, its effects, discussion of related threats and opportunities, priorities […]

Australian Marine & Fisheries Research

Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) The FRDC is Australia’s leading agency concerned with planning, investing in, and managing fisheries research, development and extension. Its stated mission is to maximise economic, environmental and social benefits for its stakeholders (the Australian Government, wild catch fisheries and aquaculture, and recreational and indigenous fishers) through effective investment and partnership in fisheries related RD&E. […]

Commercial Fisheries Harvest Strategies

Commonwealth HSP cover

Formal harvest strategies are increasingly recognised as the most efficient path to ecologically sustainable and profitable exploitation of primary target species in commercial fisheries.  Many of Australia’s commercial fisheries, including several AFMA managed commonwealth fisheries, are at the cutting edge of harvest strategy development and application. The Australian Government’s Harvest Strategy Policy and Guidelines (developed in an Australian regulatory context) are a comprehensive best practice […]

Cobalt Currents – Social Licence and Wild Catch Fishing – Why care?

SESSF Trawlers - Eden NSW

This is the second of a 3 part series on social licence and the wild catch fishing industry.  The first post introduced social licence to operate (SL2O) and what it means.  This one focuses on why a high level of social acceptability is fundamentally important for wild catch fishing businesses. At its most basic SL2O […]

Cobalt Currents – Social Licence and Wild Catch Fishing – What is SL2O?

FV Margiris

Bring back the super-trawler… zzziiiip – can of worms being opened.  Yes, FV Margiris  is a graphic example of the power of social licence in our fickle hyper-connected social landscape. A form of social licence killed the super-trawler.  It trumped well established science based fisheries management laws and policies, and flayed the fisheries managers working […]