Supporting commercial fisheries and aquaculture licence holders that have been impacted by the algal bloom occurrence.

The Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant is a voluntary payment by the South Australian Government to support commercial fisheries and aquaculture licence holders that have been significantly impacted by the algal bloom occurrence.

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.

Financial support provided to eligible South Australian commercial fisheries or aquaculture licence holders can assist in meeting fixed costs and overheads - including utilities, rent, finance and interest payments.

The Office for Small and Family Business (within the Department of State Development) is working in collaboration with the Department of Treasury and Finance to administer this grants program.

Apply before Sunday, 30 November 2025.

View Guidelines

How it works

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:

a decline in catch/harvest of 30 per cent 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
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
that PIRSA has approved a licence fee waiver under the 2024-25 Algal Bloom Fee Relief Program.

Secondary grant

An additional amount of up to $75,000 depending on business turnover, subject to demonstrating (in addition to Initial Grant requirements):

a decline in business turnover of 30 per cent or more in any consecutive three (3) month period from 1 April 2025 to 31 October 2025, compared to the corresponding three (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 $200,000.
$50,000 if business turnover in 2023-24 was above $400,000.
$75,000 if business turnover in 2023-24 was above $600,000.

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 $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;
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 30 per cent 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.

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.

you have had licence fee(s) waived by PIRSA under the 2024-25 Algal Bloom Fee Relief Program.

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 30 per cent 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.

Evidence required

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.
copies of income statements/financials validated a copy of the business’ bank statement, which must show the bank name and logo, business’ bank account name(s), BSB and account number.
Catch/harvest returns for the relevant period for which a decline is demonstrated, as well as the comparative period.
a Certificate of Currency for any general business insurance policy and income protection policy.
a signed statement declaring an ability and intent to continue to operate as a going concern i.e. beyond the Algal Bloom event.

You may be required to provide additional or alternative evidence based on your unique business situation, or as requested by South Australian Government grant assessors as part of the application process.

View the full grant guidelines for more information.

Program Guidelines

Prior to commencing your application, please ensure you read the full grant guidelines and gather the necessary evidence. Full details around eligibility and evidence required are available for download in the Program Guidelines

Program Guidelines

Apply now

Applications for this program are now open, and can be submitted via the online form below.

Please review the Program Guidelines to ensure you have all the evidence required prior to starting your application.

Apply now

Don’t quite meet the requirements of this grant?

It’s important to note that criteria exemptions can be – and have been – made to support businesses in relevant industries genuinely impacted by the algal bloom event.

Our team can work with you to determine if this is appropriate in your case. However, if we don’t have your details, we’re not able to help.

To ensure you’re given every opportunity to access South Australian Government supports, please:

Begin an application for the Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant, even if you’re not certain of your eligibility;
Contact our team to discuss your unique situation. Once we have your details, we can get in touch if additional or alternative support becomes available; and
Visit algalbloom.sa.gov.au to view the full South Australian Government Algal Bloom Response Package. Here, you can also sign up for news and updates on further support as it becomes available.

Email our business support team

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Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant

Supporting commercial fisheries and aquaculture licence holders that have been impacted by the algal bloom occurrence.

How it works

Initial grant

Secondary grant

Eligibility criteria

Evidence required

Program Guidelines

Apply now

Don’t quite meet the requirements of this grant?

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