Class E Aquaculture Permit Information

What is a Class E Aquaculture Permit?

To undertake commercial aquaculture in NSW you require a permit from NSW DPI.

The Class E aquaculture permit allows you to start aquaculture production even though you may not own land or have your own water storages on your existing property.

The permit allows extensive freshwater aquaculture (no feeding) at a number of different sites. Crustaceans (for example Yabbies) and molluscs (for example freshwater mussels) may stocked into man-made farm dams and water storages at numbers that are supported by the food available in the water body. Feeding with pellets or grains is not approved for this type of aquaculture permit.

To get approval for the permit you will be required to show that you have an agreement in place specifying terms and conditions with local land holders whose storages you intend to use. Once the permit is approved you can stock the water storages on western drainage properties with approved native crustacean and mollusc species.

As the business develops, the permit holder can add new properties without requiring additional permits. One Class E permit allows for extensive aquaculture in up to 1000 water storages.

How do I apply for a Class E permit?

Contact Aquaculture Administration on (02) 4916 3900 and ask for an application form.

What are the advantages of a Class E permit?

One person can hold a Class E permit and extensively farm approved native species in up to 1000 farm dams on different properties. The advantages of Class E permits include:

  • One set of NSW Fisheries' fees
  • Allows fish farmer to negotiate with landholder for second use of water in farm dams
  • Does not require financial commitment from landholder
  • Does not require effort of landholder
  • Does not require council approval
  • Allows those who are not land holders to enter the aquaculture industry

Where can Class E aquaculture be conducted?

In existing water storages not inundated by 1/100 year floods.

Where can't Class E aquaculture be conducted?

  • In natural waterways (eg billabongs, ephemeral lakes, creeks or rivers)
  • In farm dams and water storages susceptible to inundation from 1/100 year floods

Interested?

For more information contact Aquaculture Administration on (02) 4916 3900.