Salmon industry prepares for climate change

Tasmania's salmon industry says it is already preparing for climate change.

It's responded to a report by the CSIRO detailing the devastating effects it believes climate change will bring to Australia's commercial fishing and aquaculture industries.

Scientists predict the Tasmanian salmon, rock lobster and abalone industries will be among the hardest hit by the warming of waters in southern Australia.

In Queensland and the Northern Territory barramundi, prawn and mudcrab fisheries will be affected by changing rainfall patterns.

The Federal Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says Australia's fisheries industries need to get ready.

"We have to avoid as much climate change as we are able, by avoiding emissions," she said.

"The second thing we have to do is to adapt to the climate change we can't avoid and this report is a contribution to these industries to enable some of the thinking about that adaptation to occur."

Senator Wong says the report points out some effects which are already evident.

"I hope that industry will look at this and start to consider what sorts of plans, what sorts of expertise they may need to put in place in the coming years," she said.

Tasmania's salmon industry is worth $270million a year and employs around 1,000 people.

Pheroze Jungalwalla from the Tasmanian Salmonid Growers says steps are being taken to safeguard against rising sea temperatures.

"In some parts of warm years it gets too warm for the fish which means they become uncomfortable, which means that they eat less, they can in fact succumb to more diseases, they can become more stressed," Mr Jungalwalla said.

"There are several avenues we are exploring, for instance we've got a very selective breeding program. One of the aims of this program is indeed to breed fish, salmon, which are more resistant to high temperatures."

The report also points out that despite the negative effects of climate change, there are potential gains for smart businesses.