Algal Bloom Grants program

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This is a preview of the Algal Bloom Grant Support - Application form (both programs) form. When you’re ready to apply, click Fill Out Now to begin.
 

About this form

Algal Bloom Support

The South Australian and Australian Governments have announced a significant support package, including financial relief payments for impacted licenced commercial fisheries and aquaculture businesses and eligible marine industry businesses through two grant programs:

  • Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant
  • Algal Bloom Small Business Support Grant

Full Guidelines for each Program are available here.

For further enquiries, contact the Office for Small and Family Business at algalbusinesssupportgrants@sa.gov.au or call (08) 8429 7700.

More helpful information including FAQs for each of the Algal Bloom grants and other support measures please visit business.sa.gov.au/algal-bloom.

Algal Bloom Grant Support Programs

 

Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant

The available grant amount is in two tiers:

  1. Tier 1 – an initial payment of $25,000 (excluding applicable GST) to support continued business operations; and
  2. Tier 2 – an additional amount of up to $75,000 (excluding applicable GST) depending on business turnover, subject to eligible applicants demonstrating the specific eligibility requirements for Tier 2 (in addition to Tier 1 requirements).

Applications for this program close at 5:00pm (ACST) on 30 November 2025.

 

Small Business Support Grant

The available grant amount is $10,000 (excluding applicable GST) to support continued business operations.

Applications for this program close at 5:00pm (ACST) on 30 November 2025.

How to complete this application

This application form requires applicants to complete overarching eligibility criteria about your business and will only show questions related to the Grant program your business is eligible for.

All applications are assessed on the information and evidence provided in the form or requested at the time of assessment across both programs. The form will provide an indication of the Grant program your circumstances are eligible for.

Depending on your circumstances and the appropriate grant program for you, the form may require the following evidence:

  • copy of lodged business activity statements (BAS) downloaded from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) portal for the relevant periods (including comparative period), as per eligibility criteria. Where this is not available:
    • copies of income statements/financials validated by a registered tax agent for the relevant period and the comparative period in the previous year.
  • copy of lodged tax return(s) downloaded from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) portal, or copies of income statements/financials validated by a registered tax agent, showing business turnover for the relevant year per eligibility criteria,
  • a copy of the business’ bank statement, which must show the bank name and logo, business’ bank account name(s), BSB and account,
  • Catch/harvest returns for the relevant period for which a decline is demonstrated, as well as the comparative period(if applicable) [Note: the information you provide with your application will be verified against information held by PIRSA],
  • a Certificate of Currency for any general business insurance policy and income protection policy [if the business does not have an insurance policy, the form will give the applicant the option to provide their most recent Business Activity Statement issued by the ATO],
  • where the applicant is submitting an application on behalf of a trust, a business bank statement showing the account name of the trust and the trustee. If the business bank statement cannot show a link between the trustee and the trust, the form will give the applicant the option to provide a copy of the trust deed or consent to act as trustee documents instead,
  • a signed statement declaring an ability and intent to continue to operate as a going concern i.e. beyond the Algal Bloom event [note: the statement provided with your application may be validated by the State and/or its representative as part of the assessment process],
  • any other information requested from time to time by DSD or DTF through the application process.

Overarching eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the grant, the applicant must:

  • be a legal entity established in Australia.
  • have held an active Australian Business Number (ABN) since 1 January 2025;
  • be registered for GST according to the relevant program guidelines;
  • have 2024-25 Australia-wide grouped payroll not greater than $10 million (for Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance) or not greater than $1.5 million (for Small Business Support) [Note: the information you provide with your application will be verified against information held by Revenue SA].

South Australian commercial fisheries or aquaculture licence holders who have had their licence fee(s) waived by PIRSA under 2024-25 Algal Bloom Fee Relief Program will be eligible for an expressed application process by bypassing Tier 1 criteria or the criteria for the Algal Bloom Small Business Support Grant as noted below.

Program-specific Eligibility Criteria

 

Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant

To be eligible for the grant and access Tier 1 funding, the applicant must, in addition to other criteria as outlined in the guidelines, 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.

OR

  • 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.

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;
 

Small Business Support Grant

To be eligible for the grant and access $10,000, the applicant must, in addition to other criteria as outlined in the guidelines, 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;

Commercial Licence Holders

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 may 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.
  • is an Excluded entity.