Regional climate trends and associated biological impacts have been clearly documented in Australian marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including changes in marine productivity and the distribution of suitable species habitat. Subsequent autonomous adaptation in socio-ecological systems is also beginning; however, some changes are exacerbating existing conflicts between biological and human systems, adding to the societal challenge in adapting. In response to observations and projections, managers and policy makers are seeking advice around possible options for reducing the impact of these changes for a range of marine species and systems. These options can be applied to habitats, species, as well as the dependent human systems, such as by changes in management regulations for fisheries, or in managing existing stressors. Developing and evaluating a range of adaptation options now is important, even as the evidence for impact continues to accumulate - adaptive management responses represent a useful way forward. While adaptation options may be difficult to implement for some species such as open ocean fishes, recent adaptation projects demonstrate success at some more tractable scales, e.g. seabird and turtle colonies on islands. However, recent improvements in ocean model resolution has provided contrasting climate projections compared to coarser models, leading to uncertainty that has clouded our apparent understanding. Thus, developing robust adaptation pathways that can guide future decision making will be critical to see biological systems continue to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services and be enjoyed by future generations.