Adelaide University study finds fish resilience to warming East Coast waters

Researchers at Adelaide University found that certain estuarine fishes living in habitats with highly variable temperatures can withstand warmer ocean conditions expected from climate change. The study, which examined yellowfin bream, sand whiting, and tarwhine, showed that the resilience of these species is genetically determined. These fishes are important to the fisheries industry on the East Coast.

The study suggests that while climatic extremes can compromise ecosystem services, including fisheries productivity, some economically important species may be genetically primed to cope with warming estuaries. This finding is relevant to coastal communities that depend on fisheries productivity on the East Coast.