Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme – Stage 3 (Australia)

Deadline: 30 January 2025

The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) is inviting applications for Stage 3 of its Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme to support holders of eligible commercial fishing licences (PCFLs) affected by the closure of certain fisheries in Queensland.

Stage 3 of the Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme aims to provide assistance to former holders or lessees of particular primary commercial fishing licences (PCFLs) and fishery symbols. Assistance under this Scheme will offer payment for the surrender of usable gillnets, a grant for the removal of gillnet equipment fitted to vessels, and a grant for downstream businesses that have been affected by the structural adjustment to diversify their business.

Purpose

Payment for surrender of particular fishing nets
- The purpose of this assistance under the Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme (FSAS) – Stage 3 is to provide a payment to former holders and lessees of primary commercial fishing licences (PCFL) on which particular fishery symbols were written to surrender usable nets.
Grant for removal of equipment related to use of relevant mesh nets
- The purpose of this assistance under the Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme (FSAS) – Stage 3 is to provide a grant of up to $100,000 former holders and lessees of primary commercial fishing licences (PCFLs) for the cost of removal of equipment and boat survey work related to the use of relevant mesh nets from their boats.
Business Diversification Grants
- The purpose of this assistance under the Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme (FSAS) – Stage 3 is to provide a co-contribution grant of up to $100,000 to pay owners of eligible business to diversity their business if the business relied on fish taken under a primary commercial fishing licence from Great Barrier Reef fisheries on which now retired fishery symbols (N1, N2 or N4) were written or from particular parts of the Great Sandy region.

Under this part of the Scheme, former holders and lessees of particular fishing symbols can receive a payment for the surrender of a usable net.

Funding Information

Payment for surrender of particular fishing nets
- The maximum amount of assistance is as follows:
  - For N1: Maximum assistance is $15,000 (excluding GST).
  - For N1 and N2: Maximum assistance is $45,000 (excluding GST).
  - For N2: Maximum assistance is $45,000 (excluding GST).
  - For N4: Maximum assistance is $60,000 (excluding GST).
  - For N4 and N1: Maximum assistance is $60,000 (excluding GST).
  - For N2 and N4: Maximum assistance is $100,000 (excluding GST).
  - For N1, N2 and N4: Maximum assistance is $100,000 (excluding GST).
  - For N3: Maximum assistance is $30,000 (excluding GST).
  - For Any net not in usable condition: No assistance available (N/A).
Grant for removal of equipment related to use of relevant mesh nets
- The maximum amount of this assistance available for an applicant that held or leased a PCFL when the fishery symbol: ‘N1’ or ‘N2’ written — $50,000 (excluding GST); or ‘N4’ was written — $100,000 (excluding GST).
- The maximum amount of assistance available for an applicant eligible for assistance under who surrendered a PCFL where the ‘N3’ fishery symbol was written, or surrendered the ‘N3’ fishery symbol, is $50,000 (excluding GST).
Business Diversification Grants
- The amount of assistance available is 50% of the cost of implementing a diversification plan for the applicant’s eligible business, up to $100,000 (exclusive of GST).

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for assistance related to the payment for the surrender of particular fishing nets, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
- have held or leased a PCFL on which an eligible symbol (‘N1’, ‘N2’ and ‘N4’) was written for at least 1 day during the period starting on 1 September 2021 and ending on 30 June 2023; and
- have taken at least 1 kilogram of fish:
  - in accordance with an eligible symbol (‘N1’, ‘N2’ or ‘N4’) written on the applicant’s PCFL; and from a commercial fishery in management regions 1 to 5; and during the period starting on 1 September 2021 and ending on 30 June 2023.
  - declare that they intend to surrender a stated length of usable net; and
  - the stated length is at least 1 metre.
- An applicant is also eligible for assistance if the applicant:
  - surrendered, on or after 8 December 2023: a PCFL on which the fishery symbol ‘N3’ was written; or the fishery symbol ‘N3’; and
  - declares that they intend to surrender a stated length of usable net; and
  - specifies in the application, the length of usable net they intend to surrender.
Grant for removal of equipment related to use of relevant mesh nets
- To be eligible for assistance for ‘N1’, ‘N2’ or ‘N4’ fishery symbols assistance category, the applicant must:
  - have held or leased a PCFL on which the fishery symbol ‘N1’, ‘N2’ or ‘N4’ was written during the period starting on 1 September 2021 and ending on 30 June 2023; and
  - have taken at least 1 kilogram of fish: from a commercial fishery in management regions 1 to 5; and in accordance with the fishery symbol ‘N1’, ‘N2’ or ‘N4’ written on the licence; and during the period starting on 1 September 2021 and ending on 30 June 2023; and
  - own the primary boat or a tender boat for the PCFL; and provides in their application at least 2 quotes for eligible work, and nothing other than eligible
  - work, for the boat mentioned in from an accredited marine surveyor or a person who is qualified to undertake marine outfitting or repair.
To be eligible for assistance for an ‘N3’ fishery symbol assistance category, the applicant must:
- have surrendered, on or after 8 December 2023: a PCFL on which the fishery symbol ‘N3’ was written; or the fishery symbol ‘N3’; and
- own the primary boat or a tender boat for the PCFL; and
- provide in their application at least 2 quotes for eligible work, and nothing other than eligible work, for the boat mentioned in from an accredited marine surveyor or a person who is qualified to undertake marine outfitting or repair.
Business Diversification Grants
- To be eligible for assistance for an eligible business, the applicant must:
  - be the owner of the eligible business;
  - declare that 75% of the income of the eligible business has been, or is projected to be, lost because the eligible business relied on fish taken: under the fishery symbols ‘N1’, ‘N2’ or ‘N4’; or from a relevant Great Sandy fishery that was, or will be, affected by the Fisheries and Other Legislation (Structural Reform) Amendment Regulation 2023 or the Marine Parks (Great Sandy) Zoning Plan 2024.
  - declares that the eligible business will contribute at least 50% of the money, to implement the diversification plan for the eligible business; and
  - demonstrate to the satisfaction of QRIDA, that the declaration is correct (examples of evidence to demonstrate the loss or projected loss of income may include a statement from a financial adviser, BAS statements, ATO records, and/or a dated accountant letter on a letterhead from a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand or the Institute of Public Accountants); and
  - submit to QRIDA the diversification plan for the eligible business; and
  - satisfy QRIDA that the eligible business will contribute at least 50% of the money to implement the diversification plan.