Frequently Asked Questions

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.

If your business has experienced continued impacts from the Algal Bloom over a different three-month period (called an ‘impact period’ in the guidelines), you can apply again for a further grant payment subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.

Continued impact can be demonstrated by satisfying any one or more of the eligibility pathways in the guidelines (for example, this could be having your licenced fee waived again in a different period, demonstrating another 30% decline in your business turnover, or a closure of a harvest area for an extended period).

It may not be the same eligibility criteria as your first application, but it must be a different or later period.

If you have already received a grant payment, you will receive an email notifying you that you can apply for an additional payment when the additional form is available.

To apply, you will be prompted to log in to your SmartyGrants account. The additional form will also appear in your dashboard.

You will need to provide evidence of continued impact over a different or subsequent three-month period – for example, this might be another notification from PIRSA that your licence fee has been waived in a different or subsequent 3 month period or a closure of your harvest, or your BAS statements if you are demonstrating another reduction in business turnover. The application form will provide you with prompts on what evidence is required.

You will not need to submit proof of identity documents or bank statements unless something has changed – only updated evidence of impact such as BAS statements or notifications.

Yes, eligible applicants can apply to receive up to two grant payments under the Algal Bloom Fisheries and Aquaculture Assistance Grant or the Algal Bloom Small Business Support Grant. Your business will need to demonstrate the eligibility criteria for two different three-month impact periods.

You will not be able to apply for the second grant payment until you have been approved for or received your initial grant payment.

If you cannot yet demonstrate continued impact in accordance with the guidelines in a second impact period, you will not be eligible for the second payment. You can still apply to receive an initial payment if you have not applied yet.

The program close dates have also been extended to 31 March 2026 (as of 15 October 2025), meaning that you may become eligible in a later impact period.

You don’t need to do anything. Your application will continue to be assessed and if you later meet the eligibility for an initial payment, we’ll contact you by email to indicate whether you are eligible to apply for a second payment as well.