Impacts of climate change on Australian marine life - Part A: Executive Summary

Abstract

Australia is truly a maritime nation; over 90% of the population of 20 million live within 120 km of the coast and Australia has sovereign rights over approximately 8.1 million km2 of ocean. Australia’s oceans generate significant economic wealth; about $52 billion per year or 8% of gross domestic product through activities such as fisheries (Figure 1–1), tourism and recreation, shipping and offshore gas and petroleum extraction. Fisheries and aquaculture are important industries in Australia, both economically (gross value over $2.5 billon, Figure 1-2) and socially. Marine life and ecosystems also provide invaluable services including coastal defence, nutrient recycling and greenhouse gas regulation valued globally at $27 trillion per annum (Constanza et al. 1997).