Sea Change Australia has won the Australian Science Communicators’ Inspiring Project in Science Communication Award.
The award recognises projects that demonstrate impact and an innovative best-practice led approach.
Sea Change Australia is an initiative of the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) and the Centre for Marine Socioecology (CMS), in collaboration with CSIRO, that brings the seafood sector together to facilitate knowledge exchange and co-develop climate adaptation options for healthy and strong Australian fisheries and aquaculture in the future.
“We are thrilled to have been awarded such a recognition on a project that’s really about elevating the seafood sector voices about climate adaptation” said Dr Julia Santana Garcon, project manager and research fellow at Sea Change Australia.
The initiative creates a two-way exchange where researchers can share the latest knowledge while fishers, aquaculture operators and industry can share their experiences, concerns and questions.
“Our whole team contributes their expertise, time and networks to make sure there is meaningful knowledge exchange across the fishing and aquaculture sectors, and to help co-develop climate resilient options that are relevant to the people who will use them.”
Professor Gretta Pecl, Professor of marine ecology at IMAS and Director of CMS, said climate change poses a growing threat to fisheries and aquaculture in Australia.
“Fisheries and aquaculture stakeholders across Australia need relevant climate information tailored to their changing needs,” she said.
“They also need ways to share how they are currently dealing with climate change and how they could improve their responses.
“Sea Change Australia creates opportunities for people across the seafood sector – including fishers, aquaculture operators, industry, researchers, and managers – to ask questions about climate change on the Q&A platform Fishing for Climate Answers.”
Sea Change Australia is funded by Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) on behalf of the Australian Government, with co-investment from State agencies and Seafood Industry organisations from around Australia.
Cover image: Tuna by Guido Montaldo | Shutterstock