Ireland can now expect an "extreme weather" event at least once a year due to climate change, according to a Marine Institute report.
However, new opportunities to catch tuna, pilchard and other warm water species may be one of the more positive aspects, according to the study.
Such is the pace of climate change that predicted effects should be incorporated as a "major consideration" in county development and coastal zone management plans, and research on various aspects should be extended significantly, the report recommends.
The analysis of climate change implications for Ireland's marine environment and marine industry sector, worth €3 billion, confirms earlier predictions about warmer seas, wetter winters, increased flooding and more intense storms.
It also identifies geographic shifts in key commercial fish species and increased growth rates for native shellfish.
Extreme weather events such as flooding and storms causing considerable damage, which used to occur every two to three years, can now be anticipated annually, it says - backing up a prediction by the Irish Insurance Federation.
More positive aspects include the occurrence of new warm water fish species, and arrival of new bird species to breed here, such as the Mediterranean gull and little egret.
However, it notes that long- term effects on the North Atlantic are "less predictable", and says the slowing down of warm ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream is "one possible scenario". The report was compiled by marine environmental adviser Rick Boelens, Dr Dan Minchin of Marine Organism Investigations and Geoffrey O'Sullivan, a senior staff member of the Marine Institute, as part of preparation for a new national marine research strategy for the years 2006 to 2010. Recommendations made to minimise negative impacts on marine industries and turn change to Ireland's advantage include: Establishing partnerships with other European and Atlantic boundary countries to provide warning of climate change effects and training.
Developing and implementing a national strategy and risk assessment procedure for assessing the positive or negative impact of new marine species that are likely to become established as a result of climate change, and the impact of losing some traditional commercial species - like cod, which is already moving north, and wild salmon.
Extending the network of automated monitoring stations for sea temperature, salinity, wind strength, wave height and sea level, improving ability to evaluate such data, and intensifying measurement of deep ocean currents to the west and north of the island.
Establishing an expert group to advise the Government of findings from marine climate research, and management of environmental and socio-economic impacts.
The report reaffirms findings of a recent Environmental Protection Agency report on the subject, and acknowledges the work being carried out by Met Éireann, NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway and University College, Cork, along with the British Climate Impacts programme.
The Marine Institute is to hold a joint Irish-British workshop in September on the impact of climate change on ecosystem dynamics in the Irish and Celtic Sea, and is participating in a Europe-wide working group organised by the European Science Foundation.
Commenting on the report, Dr Peter Heffernan, chief executive officer of the Marine Institute, said that Ireland's location at the eastern end of the Gulf Stream and at the southernmost temperature limits of important fish species like salmon and cod, made the island an "ideal observatory" for studying the implications of such changes on the marine environment.
Climate Change - Implications for Ireland's Marine Environment and Resources is due to be published next week by the Marine Institute.
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