Leasing and licensing

Lease and licence regulations promote ecologically sustainable development of our aquaculture industry.

Marine and land-based aquaculture requires a licence in South Australia. Leases are also required for marine aquaculture.

Leases and licences include conditions that must be followed.

Lease and licence applications

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) Fisheries and Aquaculture takes applications for:

Note: Pursuant to the Aquaculture Act 2001 PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture is unable to consider aquaculture applications for the division, movement, or amalgamation of an aquaculture lease, if the aquaculture lease site is associated with a lease for a land title registered under the Real Property Act 1886. To assist in determining whether an aquaculture lease site is associated visit AgInsight.

Fees

All lease and licences have fees that are reviewed annually:

Assessment process

A 2-week consultation process is undertaken for the following types of applications:

  • new marine aquaculture lease and licence
  • new land-based aquaculture licence
  • movement of a lease
  • variation of licence conditions (species or farming structures).

Stakeholder notification

Stakeholders are notified about applications, including but not limited to:

Notification includes enough details of the application to identify potential conflicts or concerns about the proposal. The application is also referred to other South Australian government agencies.

Risk assessments

All new applications have an ecologically sustainable development (ESD) risk assessment. This is based on a nationally accredited framework to assess the sustainability of the activity in relation to its potential impact on the environment.

Up to 36 risk events (e.g. habitat effects, interactions, alienation, nutrients) across site and regional scales are assessed. The following are used:

  • existing legislation (e.g. regulations, policies)
  • current scientific literature and advice, if required
  • consultation and engagement with internal and external stakeholders
  • referrals to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
  • other government departments, as required.

Risk events requiring assessment for an application are determined on a case-by-case basis. This depends on the type of application (e.g. new, lease movement, variation of licence conditions).

PIRSA follows internal ESD risk assessment guidelines for individual applications – see an example: Finfish farming in Fitzgerald Bay.

Licence holder information

Enquiries and application forms

For enquiries about the application process or to request an application form contact us.

Contact us

View all PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture contacts or contact us using details below.

(08) 8207 5332 pirsa.aquaculture@sa.gov.au
Page last reviewed: 05 Mar 2024

 


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