This paper provides a guide to policy makers and fisheries managers about climate adaptation in marine capture fisheries. It stresses that any policy should be flexible and be able to adjust to unexpected impacts and policy outcomes and, whenever possible, encourage and assist fishers and their communities to autonomously adapt to climate change. It emphasizes that there are ‘win–win’ approaches in terms of best practice fisheries management that will be beneficial in both the present and the future, and these should be implemented regardless of possible climate change impacts.