Aquaculture Industry Development Program

Applications must be submitted before 4pm on Sunday 18 January 2026.

Before completing this application form, you must read the Program Guidelines available on the Program website.

• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Your application is not officially submitted for consideration until you click 'Review and Submit' at the end of the application form.
• Acceptance of late submissions will be at the sole discretion of the Department. 
• You cannot reopen or amend applications after the closing date and time.

If you require assistance completing this application, please contact regionaldevelopmenttrust@dpird.nsw.gov.au and quote the application ID number in the email subject line.

After submitting your application the department may contact you to verify information or seek further information.

Program Evaluation

Successful applicants will be required to participate in an evaluation to determine the extent to which their project has contributed to the objectives of the Program. The evaluation will require applicants to provide evidence of how their project has resulted in measurable outcomes and benefits that are consistent with the objectives of the Program. Guidance on data collection will be provided for successful applicants.

The Aquaculture Industry Development Program is a $20 million investment from the Regional Development Trust and aligns to the sustainable regional industries key focus area that aims to enable regional industries to grow and adapt with structural and environmental change. The Program aims to:

• support the NSW Aquaculture Vision Statement to increase farmgate production in the aquaculture sector by 2030 and drive productivity in commercial fishing
• support regional businesses to modernise to increase productivity, exports, resilience to climate change impacts, contribution to net zero and/or circular economy targets
• build regional capability in sustainable seafood and marine bioproducts.

Objectives

The objective of the Program is to:

• increase regional aquaculture and commercial fishing industries access to new and expanding markets
• leverage opportunities associated with environmental and market changes to position NSW as the market leader in sustainable seafood and marine bioproducts

Intended Recipients

The intended recipients of grants under the program are businesses in aquaculture (including hatcheries) and commercial fishing, relevant natural resource management organisations, key associations, industry peak bodies, post-harvest sector organisations and research organisations including Australian universities.

Intended recipients include Aboriginal businesses and organisations in either the aquaculture or commercial fishing industries.

Intended recipients are encouraged to work with businesses and community organisations to identify potential projects or partnerships.

The Applicant acknowledges and agrees that:

• submission of this application does not guarantee funding will be granted for any project, and the Department expressly reserves its right to accept or reject this application at its discretion;
• the applicant must bear the costs of preparing and submitting this application and the Department does not accept any liability for such costs, whether or not this application is ultimately accepted or rejected; and
• the applicant has read the Program Guidelines for the Program and has fully informed themselves of the relevant Program requirements.

By submitting this application form, the Applicant acknowledges and agrees that:

• if this project application is successful, the relevant details of the project will be made public, including details such as the names of the organisation (Applicant) and any partnering organisation (state government agency or non-government organisation), project title, project description, location, anticipated time for completion and amount awarded;
• the Department will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that any information received in or in respect of this application which is clearly marked ‘Commercial-in-confidence’ or ‘Confidential’ is treated as confidential, however, such documents will remain subject to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act); and
• in some circumstances the Department may release information contained in this application form and other relevant information in relation to this application in response to a request lodged under the GIPA Act or otherwise as required or permitted by law.