Deadline Date: January 18, 2026
The NSW Government has established the Aquaculture Industry Development Program to support the NSW aquaculture sector.
The program aims to support the NSW Aquaculture Vision Statement to increase farmgate production in the aquaculture sector by 2030 and drive productivity in commercial fishing, support regional businesses to modernise to increase productivity, exports, resilience to climate change impacts, contribution to net zero and/or circular economy targets, and build regional capability in sustainable seafood and marine bioproducts. The Aquaculture Industry Development Program is a $20 million investment from the Regional Development Trust and aligns to the sustainable regional industries key focus area, which seeks to enable regional industries to grow and adapt in response to structural and environmental change.
The objective of the program is to increase regional aquaculture and commercial fishing industries access to new and expanding markets and to leverage opportunities associated with environmental and market changes to position NSW as the market leader in sustainable seafood and marine bioproducts. Grant funding is available from $100,000 to $2,000,000 to support eligible projects that contribute to the program’s objectives and strengthen regional industry outcomes.
Applicants may apply under different funding streams, with eligibility extending to commercial fishing endorsement holders, aquaculture permit holders, natural resource management organisations, Aboriginal organisations and businesses, key associations or peak bodies, research organisations including Australian universities, post-harvest sector organisations whose primary income is from aquaculture and commercial fishing products, and for certain streams, private sector entities servicing markets for aquaculture waste products within the circular economy.
Eligible applicants must be legally established entities in Australia, hold an Australian Business Number, demonstrate financial viability, maintain appropriate public liability insurance, meet fit and proper person requirements, and have relevant project delivery experience or access to required expertise, while also aligning with specified industry classification codes.
For more information, visit NSW Government.
