Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant

To be eligible for the grant, the applicant must:

• be a legal entity established in Australia.
• be a South Australian commercial fisheries or aquaculture licence holder;
• have held an active Australian Business Number (ABN) since 1 January 2025;
• be registered for GST at the time applications opened (29 July 2025);
• demonstrate minimum business turnover of $75,000 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 [Note: the information you provide with your application will be verified against information held by Revenue SA]
• derive at least 75% of business turnover directly from commercial activities under the commercial fisheries or aquaculture licence(s).
• demonstrate, as a result of the Algal Bloom event;
  • a decline in catch/harvest of 30% or more in any consecutive 3 month period from 1 April 2025 to 31 October 2025, compared to the corresponding 3 month period in the year prior. [Note: evidence needs to include catch data that can be verified and confirmed by PIRSA]

OR

• • you have restricted, or no, access to harvesting areas as a result of a direction by 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% of revenue in 2023-24 from a product or species that is subject to a harvest restriction directed by PIRSA.

OR

• • you have had licence fee(s) waived by PIRSA under the 2024-25 Algal Bloom Fee Relief Program
• demonstrate ability and intent to continue to operate as a going concern i.e. beyond the Algal Bloom event [Note: grant monies will need to be repaid if the business is wound‑up or sold within 12 months of receiving a grant]
• to access Tier 2 funding:
  • demonstrate, as a direct result of the Algal Bloom event, a decline in business turnover of 30% or more in any consecutive 3 month period from 1 April 2025 to 31 October 2025, compared to the corresponding 3 month period in the year prior;
• not be an excluded entity.

South Australian commercial fisheries or aquaculture licence holders may be assessed for exceptional circumstances eligibility where they do not explicitly meet the specific eligibility criteria outlined in this section but have been materially impacted by the Algal Bloom event.

Eligibility under exceptional circumstances will be considered by the Treasurer, or their delegate, on a case-by-case basis. The Treasurer, or their delegate, is not obliged to approve any application.

Applicants will not be eligible if:

• the applicant has received, or has been approved to receive, financial assistance relating to the Algal Bloom event from another State government assistance scheme
• the applicant is entitled to receive a payment under a general insurance or income protection insurance policy in relation to the Algal Bloom event.

Please provide details about the business entity applying for the grant as defined by its ABN and the authorised contact applying on its behalf.

Applicants can only submit one application per ABN to the Program.