Sustainably managing coastal fisheries in the face of increasing fisheries demands and widespread degradation of critical coastal habitats is now being made even more challenging due to effects of global climate change. Effects of climate change compound upon direct anthropogenic disturbances to coastal habitats and have particularly pronounced effect on coral reef habitats. Coral reef fisheries are therefore, extremely vulnerable to ongoing climate change, not only due to ongoing degration of critical habitats, but there is also evidence that current environmental regimes are already pushing the physiological limits of heavily targeted reef fishes, such as coral trout. This talk will summarise recent research into direct and indirect effects of climate change on coral trout (Plectropomus spp) on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR), as well presenting a brief overview of potential adaptation options necessary to ensure viable commercial and recreational fisheries. Of significant note, is that the thermal sensitivity of coral trout is largely invariant along the length of the GBR, such that northern populations are already being exposed to summertime temperatures that exceed their performance optima. Accordingly, catches of coral trout in the northern GBR are very low during summer, potentially due energy conservation strategies and/ or movement of fishes to cooler, deep-water habitats. Biological and socio-economic research is ongoing, but it is clear that increasing climatic impacts necessitate a review of current management arrangements for commercial and recreational fisheries on the GBR.