quote:

Dear Stakeholder

The Department of Fisheries is currently undertaking a project entitled: "Climate Change in South West Estuarine and Inland Fisheries: What are the Potential Impacts and are we ready for them?"

The objectives of the project are to:
"    Raise understanding of how climate change will impact on the communities associated with South West estuarine and inland fisheries.  
"    Develop a set of agreed and collaborative strategies on how best to respond to these potential impacts.
"    Report these strategies to relevant agencies/funding bodies/stakeholders.
"    Develop a generic consultative methodology, which can be transferred to other primary production/regional sectors.   

To meet these objectives, the Department of Fisheries is holding workshops which will utilise similar methodologies as for the 2007 WA Department of Health initiative: Health Impacts of Climate Change: Adaptation Strategies for WA.  This initiative was based on the methodologies in the National Greenhouse Office guide: Climate Change: Impacts and Risk Management: A Guide for Business and Government, and for Health Impact Assessment.

This project links with strategies described in the National Climate Change and Fisheries Action Plan and is supported by the Australian Fisheries Management Forum.  It is expected that the methodology used and outcomes for this workshop can be adapted as a template for other primary production sectors.   

The project is being conducted in two phases, incorporating two half-day workshops. .  

Phase 1 (Workshop 1): Climate Change in South West Inland and Estuarine Fisheries:  Impacts, Vulnerabilities and Coping Capacity.  

The potential impacts of climate change will be assessed under the following general interest areas:

•    The impact of climate change on the ecology and biodiversity of south west estuarine and inland fisheries.
•    The impact of climate change on the management, availability and reliable supply of commercially and recreationally valuable seafood species from south west estuarine and inland fisheries.
•    The impact of climate change on fisheries dependent settlements and infrastructure.
•    The impact of climate change on economic wellbeing of relevant stakeholders.
•    The impact of climate change on social wellbeing of relevant stakeholders.

Workshop attendees will be asked to nominate their interest area from those described above.    

Phase 2 (Workshop 2): Assessment of Risk and Development of Adaptation Strategies

This workshop will commence with a prioritisation of the impacts defined in Workshop 1.  A range of adaptive responses will then be identified for the higher risk impacts.  The adaptive responses will be developed under the following headings:

•    legislative/regulatory              .
•    surveillance and monitoring        
•    technological or engineering        
•    research  
•    public education and communication
•    ecosystem intervention
•    infrastructure development

The Department believes that a local perspective is best achieved by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, who collectively, have the knowledge and expertise to ensure a thorough coverage of the issues of significance in WA.

I would therefore like to invite you or your delegate to attend the Phase 1 Workshop being held at the WA Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories on Friday 14th November from 8.30am to 12.30pm.  

I believe that your experience will provide a valuable contribution and I am hopeful that you or your delegate will be able to attend. The results will be used to develop a strategic response for relevant organisations and an agreed set of future activities for stakeholders in estuarine and inland fisheries. To assist in organising the workshop, please indicate your main area(s) of interest as outlined above noting that there will be the opportunity to move between groups during the workshop.  

Please RSVP to this invitation, including listing your area of interest to liz.findlater@fish.wa.gov.au by 5th November.  Morning tea and a light luncheon will be provided.

Following summation of the results of Phase 1, a further half-day workshop will be scheduled for early December.  

Yours sincerely

GREG PAUST CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Invitation to Attend Phase 1 Workshop

Topic:     Climate Change in South West Inland and Estuarine Fisheries: Impacts, Vulnerabilities and Coping Capacity.

When:        Friday 14th November 2008

Time:        Registration:        08.30-08.55 am
       Workshop:        09.00-12.30 pm
       Luncheon:        12.30-13.00 pm

Where:    WA FISHERIES AND MARINE RESEARCH LABORATORIES
   39 Northside Drive
   Hillarys  WA

RSVP:         5th November  2008  Liz.Findlater@fish.wa.gov.au

Contacts: Janet Howieson  Ph: 9482 7396 Email: janet.howieson@fish.wa.gov.au

Neil Sarti Ph: 9482 7352 Email: neil.sarti@fish.wa.gov.au