Senator The Hon Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Senator The Hon Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science
Australians will soon be able to access forecasts of ocean temperature extremes as work progresses on delivering a long-range marine heatwave (MHW) outlook through Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, and supported by Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Ocean temperature plays an important role in the health and wellbeing of marine ecosystems, climate and weather patterns.
Monitoring ocean temperature extremes helps governments and marine industries prepare for potential impacts on habitats, parks, threatened species, fisheries and aquaculture.
It also helps to inform research into the impacts of warming on our ocean and future adaptation plans for marine environments.
The Albanese Government is working to improve public access to long-range outlooks, with plans to make them publicly available on the Bureau of Meteorology's website during the 2025/26 summer season.
The outlooks will provide information on the likelihood and location of marine heatwaves up to three months ahead.
Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt said a warmer ocean, together with an increase in the frequency, intensity and duration of marine heatwaves, pose a significant threat to the long-term health and resilience of marine ecosystems.
"We're seeing the effects of recent marine heatwave conditions with the South Australian algal bloom, and we know that unfortunately marine heatwaves are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity because of climate change," Minister Watt said.
"These outlooks will step beyond monitoring and will aim to forecast potential issues before they eventuate."
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins said this investment will turn a successful trial into ongoing forecasts that will have broad benefits for ocean users, including our fishing and aquaculture sectors.
"Improving forecasting capabilities will play an important role in the planning and overall sustainability of our fishing and aquaculture sectors - an industry critical to our food security and national economy," Minister Collins said.
"This will support our fishers to maximise their catches, adjust their operations, and ensure they are better positioned for managing the potential impacts of marine heatwaves."
Minister for Science, Tim Ayres said CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology's innovative work in dynamic forecasting of marine heatwaves was a game-changer for Australia's marine industries and ecosystems.
"This research is not only protecting livelihoods and biodiversity, but also helping Australia build climate resilience into our national planning," Minister Ayres said.
"The Albanese Labor Government is proud to champion research and development, and it's projects like this that demonstrate the depth of Australia's scientific capability, and the critical role innovation plays in addressing national and global challenges."
The outlook capability has been developed and proven in research undertaken through the Bureau-CSIRO Marine Heatwave Prediction Project and in consultation with the Fisheries Research Development Corporation to facilitate fisheries climate briefings.
