Getting started

To become a marine aquaculture producer, you will need the following:

1. One or more marine waters leases – the water on which you will undertake aquaculture.
2. A class A or B aquaculture permit – gives you the authority to undertake aquaculture activities on marine waters leases. A class A permit will allow you undertake extensive aquaculture (no supplementary food or nutrients are added to the water) such as mussels or seaweed, while a class B permit will allow you to undertake intensive aquaculture (food and nutrients can be added to the water) such as finfish.

To apply for a new aquaculture permit, start with the new permit information kit. You will need to prepare a commercial farm development plan (CFDP), a lease maintenance and development plan and a biosecurity management plan. You will also need to demonstrate that you have access to a land-based facility to enable you to operate effectively.

If you are interested in starting up a marine aquaculture business, it is essential that you read the NSW Marine Waters Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy (MWSAS) 2018. It is essential that you understand the process involved in applying for a marine waters lease as it requires approval from multiple agencies.

To acquire a marine waters aquaculture lease, it is recommended that you speak to someone in DPIRD Aquaculture who can talk you through the options. Once you have identified a potentially suitable area, you will need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) for that area. If the EOI is supported, the proposed lease will be offered via a competitive allocation process (public tender), in which you will need to submit a tender for the proposed lease.