Industry and Investment NSW (formerly NSW DPI) is encouraging the development of a viable and environmentally sustainable aquaculture industry through sound land use planning principles to promote the production of seafood of the highest quality. A background to the NSW aquaculture industry is summarised in Aquaculture Facts and Figures.
Aquaculture involves the breeding, growing, keeping and harvesting of fish or marine vegetation with a view to sale for a commercial purpose. It involves a range of developments on both land and water.
The State Environmental Planning Policy (Primary Production and Rural Development) 2019 provides the legislative framework for defining areas where aquaculture is a permissive land use. Aquaculture Industry Development Plans prepared by the department under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 also utilise land use planning principles to ensure aquaculture is developed in a sustainable manner promoting industry best practice.
The department has developed a number of documents to assist in the development of the different categories of aquaculture. These categories include:-
The application forms for an aquaculture permit and/or lease and additional extension information such as newsletters, production reports and other publications can be accessed on the department’s aquaculture page.