Apply for Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant Program (Australia)

The Department of State Development (DSD), working in collaboration with the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF), will administer the ABFAAG program.

Funding Information

• One-off grants of up to $100,000 are available to support eligible licence holders that have been unable to catch and/or harvest their typical volume of marine species, or have been unable to operate due to extended harvest closures.

How does it work?

• Initial grant
  • If you’re an eligible South Australian commercial fishery or aquaculture licence holder who has been impacted, you can apply for an immediate initial payment of $25,000, subject to demonstrating:
    • the closure of a licence holder’s harvest area for an extended period (greater than 1 month) as a result of a direction by PIRSA due to elevated levels of brevetoxin; or
    • a decline in catch/harvest of 50 per cent or more in any consecutive 3-month period from 1 April 2025 to 31 July 2025, compared to the corresponding 3-month period in the year prior.
• Secondary grant
  • An additional amount of up to $75,000 depending on business turnover, subject to demonstrating (in addition to Initial Grant requirements):
    • the reduced catch/harvest has resulted in a decline in business turnover of 50 per cent or more in any consecutive 3-month period from 1 April 2025 to 31 July 2025, compared to the corresponding 3-month period in the year prior.
  • Secondary grant payments, up to $75,000, are calculated as follows:
    • $25,000 if business turnover in 2023-24 was above $300,000.
    • $50,000 if business turnover in 2023-24 was above $500,000.
    • $75,000 if business turnover in 2023-24 was above $700,000.

How may the funding be used?

• Financial support provided to eligible South Australian commercial fisheries or aquaculture licence holders is intended to assist in meeting fixed costs and overheads, including utilities, rent, finance and interest payments, whilst the business is unable to operate due to harvest restrictions implemented by PIRSA, or has experienced a significant reduction in catch/harvest.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for the grant, the applicant must:
  • be a legal entity established in Australia (a sole trader, company, partnership or trustee of a trust). Incorporated entities must be incorporated in Australia;
  • be a South Australian commercial fisheries or aquaculture licence holder;
  • hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN) as at 1 January 2025;
  • be registered for GST at the time applications opened;
  • demonstrate minimum business turnover of $100,000 in financial year 2023-24 or 2024‑25;
  • have an Australia-wide grouped payroll not greater than $10 million in the financial year 2024-25;
  • derive at least 75 per cent of business turnover directly from commercial activities under the commercial fisheries or aquaculture licence(s).
• The applicant must also demonstrate, as a result of the Algal Bloom event;
  • a decline in catch/harvest of 50 per cent or more in any consecutive 3-month period from 1 April 2025 to 31 July 2025, compared to the corresponding 3-month period in the year prior.
  • OR
  • you have restricted, or no, access to harvesting areas as a result of a direction by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) to close a harvest area for an extended period (greater than 1 month), due to elevated levels of brevetoxin; and
  • you derived at least 50 per cent of revenue in 2023-24 from a product or species that is subject to a harvest restriction directed by PIRSA.
• To access secondary grant (Tier 2) funding, an applicant must also demonstrate, as a direct result of the Algal Bloom event, a decline in business turnover of 50 per cent or more in any consecutive 3-month period from 1 April 2025 to 31 July 2025, compared to the corresponding 3-month period in the year prior.

For more information, visit DSD.