Eat More NSW Seafood Program 2023

Whiting and chips

The NSW Government wants more local seafood on more NSW plates and is launching a program to boost the value of the NSW seafood industry.

The Eat More NSW Seafood 2023 grants program is designed to build marketing and promotion capability within seafood businesses through small-scale (less than $10,000 excluding GST) and large-scale ($10,000 to $100,000 excluding GST) grants.

The purpose of the campaign is to increase consumption of NSW seafood, drive the value of NSW seafood through increased awareness and consumption, and build industry capabilities and cohesiveness.

Strategic objectives of the campaign are to:

  • Promote the sustainability and quality of NSW seafood
  • Promote the health benefits of seafood consumption
  • Increase consumer purchasing options across a broader range of seafood products
  • Educate consumers and the community about the important of sustainable fishing and aquaculture, and how they can help achieve this through their seafood purchasing choices
  • Increase awareness of the economic contribution made by NSW seafood production to local and regional communities
  • Build support for NSW commercial fishing and aquaculture

The Eat More NSW Seafood 2023 grants program is funded under the Marine Estate Management Strategy. The ten-year strategy was developed by the NSW Marine Estate Management Authority to coordinate management of the marine estate.

Program Guidelines

The Eat More NSW Seafood 2023 grants program will be offered in two streams:

  • Small-scale (less than $10,000 (excluding GST)
  • Large-scale ($10,000 to $100,000 (excluding GST).

The small and large-scale funds are open to owners of a registered seafood business in NSW, NSW commercial fishing licence holders, and NSW fishing business owners, holders of an aquaculture permit in NSW, and seafood industry associations or like-seafood industry entities whose members meet one of the above criteria, and may be delivered in partnership with other producers, retailers and/or marketing/promotional companies.

All project submissions will be assessed under the Program Guidelines.

Eligibility

Applications for Eat More NSW Seafood 2023 grants program must show how projects will deliver on one or more of the following objectives:

  • promote the sustainability and quality of NSW seafood
  • promote the health benefits of seafood consumption
  • increase consumer purchasing options across a broader variety of seafood products
  • educate consumers and the general community about the importance of sustainable fishing and aquaculture, and how they can help to achieve this through their seafood purchasing choices
  • increase the awareness of the economic and social contributions by NSW seafood production to local and regional communities
  • build community support for NSW commercial fishing and aquaculture.

Projects must be completed by 30 June 2024.

Eat More NSW Seafood 2023 grants program will make funding available for projects within NSW and provide opportunities within regional NSW.

Please review the Program Guidelines for further details.

Assessment

Following the review of the applications to confirm that the applicant is eligible an Evaluation Panel will make recommendations to the Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW.

Criteria 1: Attractiveness

  • Does the applicant meet the eligibility criteria for applying for a grant under the Program (mandatory requirement)?
  • Is the application relevant to the Program Objectives (mandatory requirement)?
  • Is the need well-defined?
  • Does the application identify the potential beneficiaries and the extent of impact of the project? Is the application supported by the appropriate, industry businesses, communities, consumers and/or other potential beneficiaries?
  • Are the planned outcomes well quantified and/or qualified in terms of the economic and/or social benefits to the NSW seafood industry and/or NSW local or regional communities?
  • Will the planned outcomes, if achieved, provide a high benefit-cost ratio or a sound return on investment or value for money?
  • Is there an appropriate level of collaboration between producers, retailers and/or marketing companies with appropriate expertise?
  • Is the applicant, potential beneficiary or other entity making an appropriate financial contribution to the project?
  • Does the applicant, potential beneficiary or other entity have the capacity to maintain the marketing or promotion activity beyond the end date of the project (mandatory requirement)?
  • Is the project original? Does it add value to other similar activities?

Criteria 2: Feasibility

  • Are the project objectives clearly specified, and are they consistent with the defined need?
  • Are the marketing or promotion methods well described, and are they consistent with the project objectives?
  • Is the delivery mechanism sound and capable of achieving the planned outcomes and within the specified timeframe?
  • Does the applicant have the demonstrated capacity, experience, and commitment to achieve the planned outcome through robust project management?
  • Do all parties involved have effective financial systems in place, and appropriate insurances (mandatory requirement)?
  • For large-scale grants, is the application accompanied by a sound documented business case (mandatory requirement)?
  • Is a project budget provided, and is it sound and realistic (mandatory requirement)?

Large scale applicants must submit a detailed financial business case application, to demonstrate how the campaign/activity will be funded and executed.

Applications for the Eat More NSW Seafood 2023 grants program have now closed.

For more information

Questions about the program can be emailed to fisheriesgrants@dpi.nsw.gov.au including queries about eligibility and the application process. More details are available on the Q&A page.

Successful Applicants 2021

Large Grants Project

Project Description

PFA  

Taste of Seafood Festivals

  • Northern NSW
  • Southern NSW
  • Central Coast   NSW
  • Inland NSW

The grant will assist in delivering Taste of Seafood Festivals in Northern NSW, Southern NSW, Central Coast NSW and Inland NSW

The Program Objectives are to promote the sustainability and quality of NSW seafood; promote the health benefits of seafood consumption; increase consumer purchasing options across a broader variety of NSW Seafood products and educate consumers and the general community about the importance of sustainable fishing and aquaculture, and how they can help to achieve this through their seafood purchasing choices

Wild Catch Coming Home

The project will focus on promoting the quality, sustainability and health benefits of Wild Catch produce, introducing the individuals who are essential of building the supply of Wild Catch who can educate the NSW audience surrounding the governance and therefore sustainable harvesting of abalone and SUTS.

Broken Bay Pearl Farm

The project aims to create awareness and build community support across NSW for the NSW Akoya Pearl Oyster and to increase consumer purchasing options with a new seafood product

Nelson Bay Seafood Pty Ltd

This project will produce a unique seafood cookbook which will address a full complement of underutilised, sustainable species such as finfish, molluscs and crustacean.

Each section of the cookbook will be introduced by detailing structure, habitat, and what to look for when making a purchasing decision.

OceanWatch - NSW Seafood Industry Partnerships in Schools to 2030

The Seafood Industry Partnerships in Schools to 2030 (SIPS 2030) project will enable up to 200 fishers, farmers, processors or retailers to uniquely and directly ‘tell their story’ to 200 teachers and 6,000 students throughout NSW building support for industry by increasing understanding of sustainable practice and the pride of seafood people in delivering quality seafood product to the NSW communities.

SIPS 2030 will create an attractive, sustainable, viable engagement program for the NSW seafood industry to continuously engage with school communities throughout NSW to 2030.

Broadwater Oysters

This project will promote the sustainability and quality of Broadwater Oysters; promote the health benefits of oyster consumption; increase consumer purchasing options for Tide-to-Table oysters; educate consumers and the general community about the importance of sustainable farming and aquaculture, and how they can help to achieve this through their seafood purchasing choices.

Total

$453,550

Small Grants Project

Project Description

Sapphire Coast Wilderness Oysters Inc - Sapphire Coast Oyster Trail Launch and Media Publicity Event

This project will launch and professionally engage media in the Sapphire Coast Oyster Trail.

Through the development of the Oyster Trail, oyster farmers will receive business mentoring and support to enable greater leverage from the promotion.

This investment into farmer business development will be ongoing. Promotional material developed for the oyster trail will be permanently hosted at Merimbula Visitor Information Centre

Pacific Urchin – Online

The project will encourage the consumption and preference for Wild NSW-sourced abalone over imported farmed or illegally sourced product.

It will demonstrate to Chinese targeted consumers the handling and preparation of live Black lip Abalone. It will also highlight the quality of purged, well-handled live product and educate consumers on legally sourced quality over poorly handled, undersized substitute product.

The project will incorporate the creation of a short YouTube narrative connecting pristine coastline with the harvest, handling, preparation and cooking of abalone translated in Mandarin and English. There is further potential to narrate in Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese.

Provide to the community via social media platforms.QR code.

Note: To avoid duplication of effort and resource allocation, the applicant agreed this grant will be provided to the Abalone Association of NSW for its project to further enhance and support the industry promotion of Abalone, Sea Urchin and Turban Shell products into the NSW domestic market.

Great Lakes Fisheries P/L - Seafood Connex Initiative

This project aims to connect catchers with consumers. It aims to give consumers informed choices about their purchases through a QR code, also placed throughout Sydney Fish Market.

It will build new communications interface through YouTube/Instagram/Facebook to gain greater community support for the industry.

It will involve a new website.

Sea Urchin Harvest Pty Ltd - Eat more sea urchin…and help us help the kelp

This project aims to expand the current domestic customer base and get a good foothold in international seafood markets where urchin roe is in high demand

Sea urchin roe is a misunderstood seafood. To those who already eat urchin roe, they know that the flavours are creamy, complex and a taste adventure that is simply delicious.

Blue Harvest Pty Ltd/Tru Blu Prawn Farms - Positioning Yamba Farmed Prawns for Growth

This project will develop a strong and identifiable brand that captures the NSW/Yamba provenance of Tru Blu tiger prawns.

Total

$46,450

Total Grants:               $500,000

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