Aboriginal Fisheries Business Development Program

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, together with our program partners, has established the Aboriginal Fisheries Business Development Program (the program).

This 2-year program supports the development of new, economically viable fisheries businesses that are owned and managed by Aboriginal community organisations in NSW.

A key focus for the program is to ensure a broader benefit to the local Aboriginal community, through reinvestment in community and economic empowerment through employment, training and development.

The program seeks to build on the success of similar initiatives in other jurisdictions of Australia, where Traditional Owners have partnered with state governments and other partners such as the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, and Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.

The department has worked in consultation with the Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council (AFAC) to develop the program.

Other key program partners

Other key program partners supporting the delivery of the program are:

Department of Aboriginal Affairs
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC)
Representative for the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO - NSW Aboriginal Land Council representative (NSWALC))
NTSCORP Limited
the 3 selected program participants.

Selection process

A statewide 'expression of interest' process attracted Aboriginal-community owned fisheries business proposals from across NSW.

Run as a competitive process, applications were assessed on their merits and against the program’s criteria outlined in the guidelines for applications.

The three proposals selected to participate in the program during 2023-25 are:

a commercial fishing enterprise to be developed with the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation on the North Coast
a Walbunja Aboriginal Fishing Cooperative to be developed with Joonga Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation on the South Coast
a recirculating aquaculture and aquaponics enterprise to be developed with the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation in the Upper Hunter region.

Feasibility assessments and business case development

In partnership with the selected participants, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the program partners will assist in developing the 3 new community-owned and run businesses, that provide a strong connection between the involved communities and management of aquatic resources.

Participants in the program will be supported through feasibility studies and business planning processes, whilst also taking advantage of networking opportunities and capacity building exercises with existing successful fisheries and aquaculture business models.

The final stages of the program will work to leverage investment in the 3 new businesses across both the public and private sector with the support of the program partners.

This program is part of the NSW Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2022-24 under the 'Sharing the Catch' initiative for Socio-economic Outcome 15B (increasing Aboriginal people’s legal rights and interests in the Sea) for which the Minister for Agriculture, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and NSW Aboriginal Land Council (as NSW CAPO lead partner) are responsible for delivering.