Frequently Asked Questions

It’s a joint initiative by the South Australian and Australian Governments to support businesses and communities impacted by the algal bloom affecting South Australia's coastline. The package includes financial grants, counselling, and other resources.

Yes. The package includes access to financial counselling, mental health support, and workforce advice to help businesses manage both short-term and long-term impacts.

No. You will not be considered eligible for the Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant if you have received, or been approved to receive, financial assistance relating to the algal bloom event from any other State Government scheme.

Please check your eligibility against both the Algal Bloom Small Business Support Grant and Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant programs to determine which grant you may be able to receive.

Yes, licence holders who received fee relief from PIRSA can still receive financial assistance through either of these two grant programs.

Not specifically, although – as detailed in the Program Guidelines – this support is only for South Australian entities.

You must also describe, and demonstrate through the evidence provided, the impact the algal bloom event has had on your business. In this way, grants are limited to businesses operating in an affected region.

Rural Business Support (RBS) has been engaged by the South Australian Government to provide free, independent and confidential financial counselling to small and family businesses impacted by the algal bloom event.

An RBS representative can also help you understand your eligibility for the existing financial support programs, and help you complete an application.

Yes. We recognise that each business is different and encourage you to begin an application even if you’re not certain you meet all eligibility criteria.

Please provide as much information as possible in your application so that your specific circumstances can be considered.

Exemptions can be – and have been – made to support businesses in relevant industries genuinely impacted by the algal bloom event. Our team will work with you to determine if this is appropriate in your case.

Contact us to discuss your unique situation.

As the algal bloom event persists and evolves, so must our support.

To provide a greater number of impacted parties with access to financial relief payments, and in response to industry feedback, we have made the following updates to grant guidelines:

• Easier grant access for commercial fishery or aquaculture licence holders who have had licence fee(s) waived by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) under the 2024-25 Algal Bloom Fee Relief Program.
• The Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grantnow invites applications from license holders with a minimum business turnover of $75,000 (previously $100,000). We’ve also reduced the necessary decline that must be demonstrated in harvest/catch and business turnover (from 50 per cent to 30 percent), and the thresholds an applicant must reach to be eligible for Tier 2 payments have been lowered.
• For both programs, we’ve expanded the time periods in which the necessary decline in turnover may be demonstrated. Application periods have been extended to 30 November 2025.

Read the news story, or view the specific grant guidelines for full information.

No. All successful, unsuccessful and pending grant applications are being reassessed against the updated grant criteria.

We will contact you to request more information, or to update you on the status of your grant application, as required.

Eligible sectors include:

• Marine or coastal tourism operators, beachfront kiosks or cafes (must be listed on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse)
• Charter boat and fishing charter operators
• Marine-based sports or schools (e.g. surf schools)
• Seafood processors
• Commercial fisheries and aquaculture licence holders
• Marine and fishing supply chain businesses (e.g. tackle shops, marine equipment suppliers)
• Marine or coastal caravan parks and accommodation providers (excluding short-term rentals like Airbnb).

Successful applicants may use the grant for any of the following to support the continued viability of their business:

• meeting standing business costs, including utilities, salaries and rent
• seeking financial advice to support the ongoing operations of the business
• adjusting the business to be viable in the changed operating environment
• increasing business resilience
• developing the business and extending business reach through marketing and communications activities
• retaining, staying connected to, and supporting existing employees.

For the purpose of this program, ‘beachfront’ is defined as next to and directly facing the sea (seafront).

To be eligible for this grant, businesses must have had an Australia-wide grouped payroll of less than $1.5 million in 2024-25.

This grant provides up to $100,000 for eligible licence holders who have been unable to catch or harvest their usual volume of marine species or have had to cease operations due to extended harvest closures.

This grant is for licence holders who:

• Have been unable to catch or harvest their usual volume of marine species
• Have had to cease operations due to extended harvest closures
• Have experienced major reductions in catch due to the algal bloom.

It can be used to cover operational losses, maintain business continuity, and support recovery efforts.

Applications can be submitted via the business.sa.gov.au website.

Yes. While applicants are not eligible for this grant program if they’ve received another State Government grant (as detailed in the Program Guidelines), this does not include the waiving of fees.

Eligible parties are encouraged to pursue both supports.

The Coorong Harvesting Area was closed 1 July 2025 as a seasonal closure and because of Brevetoxin detection.