Apply for a commercial fishing authority

Fisheries Queensland issues commercial and charter fishing authorities required under Queensland fisheries legislation. These details are recorded on the fisheries register of authorities.

Types of authorities

'Authority' is a generic term that covers:

• licences
• permits
• quota units
• trawl effort units.

Who is eligible

Authorities must be held by a legal entity:

• an individual
• a group of individuals (where each individual is named)
• a registered company
• various other entities created under legislation (e.g. associations).

Trading names and trusts are not eligible to hold authorities.

What to include

Any application fees must be paid when you submit your application.

Read the checklist and instructions in the relevant application form to ensure you return any other items required for:

• licences
• permits
• quota units (transfer only)
• trawl effort units (transfer only).

Signatures and witnesses

Applications that relate to an existing authority must be completed and signed by all of the individuals or entities that are recorded as the current holder.

Signatures on certain application forms must be witnessed. Make sure your witness fits the criteria described in the 'notes' section of the application.

Australian registered companies

Applications lodged by Australian registered companies must be accompanied by a company extract. This extract is a specific document prepared by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which identifies the directors and secretaries of the company.

You can find company extracts by searching the ASIC Registers. For a fee, Fisheries Queensland will obtain this document on your behalf.

Any overseas companies applying for licences need to provide similar evidence that they are appropriately registered within their country.

Entities created under pieces of legislation other than the Corporations Act 2001 (e.g. associations), should contact Fisheries Queensland to discuss what documentation needs to be supplied with their applications.

Native title claims

If your application affects an area subject to a native title claim, Fisheries Queensland may notify the relevant Indigenous organisation about your proposed operations. If so, you might have to supply additional information, which may delay processing of your application.