Marine extremes including heatwaves, deoxygenation events, upwelling – are becoming more common in many regions of the world. These extremes are often exacerbated by climate change, such that impacts on marine resource users and coastal communities is greater than in the past. This session will include presentations on the impacts of marine extremes on species and habitats, and human communities and activities. With an improvement in forecasting ability, particularly on seasonal time scales, early warning for the probability of extreme events is now possible. Marine heatwave forecasting, for example, is now providing early warning for coral reef systems, and ocean areas around Australia. Other forecasting systems for marine extremes that are under development can be discussed in this session. Finally, we welcome presentations on risk-based approaches to management of extreme events by governments, industries, and communities. These risk management approaches may be developed as a response to observed or predicted impacts, to forecasts, or to situations that have occurred elsewhere. An understanding of impacts, forecasting, and risk management for extreme events is critical in the West Pacific, where many coastal communities rely on the ocean for food, transport and livelihoods.

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