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Fisheries climate change research, adaptation plans, and resources
Browse reports, resources, and other information.
Our research work and plans
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Monitoring vulnerable fish stocks and key fish species
We are adapting our research priorities to focus on research gaps and to monitor vulnerable stocks more closely.
Find out how climate change is affecting our fisheries
An assessment, commissioned by Fisheries New Zealand and published in 2021, provides a useful baseline summary of how our fisheries may be influenced by climate change. The report found primary issues affecting New Zealand are ocean warming, marine heatwaves, shifts in marine circulation and weather patterns, and ocean acidification.
The report identified that:
- measurable climate change effects are occurring in NZ waters
- most of our fisheries are likely to be affected by these changes
- sedentary shellfish species in inshore habitats will be more vulnerable to impacts than mobile fisheries species found in deeper water.
The summary includes report cards on the vulnerability of 3 species to climate change – pāua, hoki and snapper.
A visual guide to the results of the climate change assessment report (No. 261) [PDF, 3 MB]
The wheel shown in the visual guide shows 9 climate impacts that affect ecosystems and fish productivity referenced in the aquatic environment biodiversity report No. 261.
Assessing the impacts of marine heatwaves
In 2025, Fisheries New Zealand published 2 studies on the observed (AEBR 352) and projected (AEBR 351) effects of marine heatwaves on marine ecosystems and fish stocks by fisheries management area.
In another study, multispectral satellite imagery was used to generate readily updateable spatial layers of kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) canopy cover (AEBR 366). The results showed that warming waters and marine heatwaves negatively affect kelp cover.
A research article summarising some of the results of Report No 352 was published in the New Zealand Journal of Marine & Freshwater Science.
AEBR 352 and AEBR 351
Climate vulnerability assessments
In 2025–26 Fisheries New Zealand is developing a climate vulnerability assessment tool. The tool is being designed to improve our understanding of fisheries' likely exposure and sensitivity to climate impacts to support fisheries management. As part of this work, we did a literature review describing potential climate vulnerability assessment approaches for New Zealand’s fisheries.
This information, along with peer-reviewed literature from other research organisations, helps inform how we manage fish stocks in New Zealand's waters.
Climate change adaptation toolkit and plans
Seafood Sector Adaptation Toolkits
Fisheries New Zealand participates in a cross-sector implementation group to support delivery of the strategy's commitments. The Seafood Adaptation Toolkits delivered through the implementation of the strategy provide practical, action-focused guidance for implementing climate adaptation plans.
Developed collaboratively with a sector-led Implementation Group, the toolkits reflect real-world needs and priorities, ensuring they’re ready to put into practice.
Seafood sector adaptation strategy implementation – The Aotearoa Circle
Aquaculture Development Plan
The New Zealand Aquaculture Development Plan recognises the importance of supporting adaptation to climate change.
New Zealand Aquaculture Development Plan
National Adaptation Plan
The National Adaptation Plan creates an outline for how New Zealand will adapt to climate change, including several initiatives led by Fisheries New Zealand.
External work supporting climate change adaptation in New Zealand
The Moana project: This was an $11 million ocean project funded by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment. The project improved understanding of coastal ocean circulation, connectivity, and marine heatwaves in New Zealand. The project developed a vessel-based ocean temperature network across New Zealand’s coastal and offshore waters by deploying sensors on fishing boats to collect data throughout the water column. The network is now operating under a charitable trust – the Aotearoa Moana Observing System (AMOS).
The New Zealand Earth System Model (NZESM): This is under development to inform stakeholders in New Zealand about climate change. Improved modelling of ocean currents will lead to a better representation in the NZESM of ocean heat content and heat transportation, enabling more accurate predictions of future change, including to temperatures in the ocean and on land and related climate extremes.
New Zealand Earth System Model: NZESM
The Department of Conservation's climate smart spatial planning
The Department of Conservation fund research to support climate smart marine spatial planning, including a climate change vulnerability assessment for marine taxa and habitat suitability modelling for marine taxa under future climate scenarios.
Marine Protected Areas research programme: Our work
The Ministry for the Environment’s report on our marine environment
The ministry reports regularly on how climate change is impacting our marine and coastal environments.
More marine climate resources
We have compiled links to some resources that offer real-time observations and forecasts of marine weather trends that can help us understand and anticipate impacts on our fisheries.
On the Earth Sciences New Zealand website
El Niño and La Niña are opposing phases of a global climate cycle called El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The ENSO phase influences weather patterns across New Zealand, including ocean temperature trends.
Provides a quarterly forecast of ENSO phase and marine conditions that can help us anticipate warming impacts on the marine environment in the coming 3 months.
Related information
El Niño Southern Oscillation – Stats NZ
A graph of historic ENSO trends.
On the Moana Project's website
A 12-month summary of recent marine heatwave conditions by region allows us to look at potential impacts along our coastline within the past year.
Current and short-term projections of sea surface temperatures at selected sites around New Zealand.
Seascape Aotearoa
Its website gives a summary of real-time monitoring stations recording sea surface temperature and water column temperature profiles in New Zealand.
