Aquaculture authority

You need an aquaculture authority issued under the Fisheries Act 1994 if your proposed development:

  • involves the cultivation of live fisheries resources for sale (unless exempt under regulation)
  • and
  • does not meet the accepted development requirements for a material change of use that is aquaculture.

An aquaculture authority regulates operations at an aquaculture development, including species, their health and productivity, biosecurity, operational protocols, and environmental management. It is issued to the operator.

Before you begin

You should contact:

Land-based marine or freshwater aquaculture

You do not need an aquaculture authority if your land-based aquaculture development meets the accepted development requirements.

If your land-based marine or freshwater aquaculture development does not meet the accepted development requirements, you will need a development approval and an aquaculture authority.

Other approvals, authorities, permits and/or licences may be required.

Marine aquaculture

If your development is marine aquaculture placed directly on tidal lands or in coastal waters (e.g. oyster farming or sea ranching), you will need a development approval and an aquaculture authority.

Other approvals, authorities, permits and/or licences may be required.

Apply for a new aquaculture authority

Your proposed aquaculture activity must meet the requirements of the aquaculture authority code to ensure it will be operated and managed to meet the objectives of the Fisheries Act 1994 and purposes of the Biosecurity Act 2014.

You must have a development approval before an aquaculture authority can be issued.

Read the aquaculture authority guideline to find out:

  • how your proposed aquaculture operation is assessed
  • what information you need to provide
  • how to prepare your application.

Prepare your application

  1. Read the aquaculture authority code to understand the requirements for your operation.
  2. Read the aquaculture authority code guideline to help you prepare your application.
  3. Seek pre-lodgement advice (prior to submitting your application) through your local SARA office.
  4. Prepare the supporting information outlined in the aquaculture authority code guideline to submit with your application.
  5. Complete the application form.

Submit your application

There are 2 options to submit your application.

Option 1 (preferred): Submit both applications together

Submit both your development approval application and aquaculture authority application via the SARA application pathway.

Option 2: Submit applications separately

This option is mandatory for works under the Economic Development Act 2012 and the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971.
  1. Submit your development approval application through your local SARA application pathway.
  2. Submit your aquaculture authority application to Fisheries Queensland at aquaculture@dpi.qld.gov.au.

You can submit the aquaculture authority application at any time. However, it will only be assessed and issued once the development approval is in place.

Amend an aquaculture authority

Proposed aquaculture authority amendments will be assessed against the relevant sections (performance outcomes) of the aquaculture authority code.

If your proposed amendments only apply to the aquaculture authority, follow these steps:

  1. Read the aquaculture authority code guideline to help you prepare your application.
  2. Complete the application for aquaculture authority amendment form.
  3. Prepare supporting information demonstrating compliance with the aquaculture authority code.
  4. Submit application to Fisheries Queensland at aquaculture@dpi.qld.gov.au.
  5. Pay the relevant fee.

If your proposed amendments require changes to the aquaculture authority and development approval, follow these steps:

  1. Read the aquaculture authority code to understand the requirements for your operation.
  2. Read the aquaculture authority code guideline to help you prepare your application.
  3. Seek pre-lodgement advice (prior to submitting your applications) through your local SARA office.
  4. Complete the relevant application form to change a development approval and the aquaculture authority amendment form
  5. Provide supporting information demonstrating compliance with the aquaculture authority code and state development code
  6. Submit both applications via the SARA application pathway or submit the development approval application to SARA and the aquaculture authority application to Fisheries Queensland at aquaculture@dpi.qld.gov.au.
  7. Pay the relevant fees.

Renew a tidal aquaculture authority

Aquaculture authorities for operations located on tidal lands, coastal waters, marine waters and rivers, and unallocated state lands are issued for a maximum of 30 years.

To renew an aquaculture authority:

Transfer ownership

To apply to transfer an aquaculture authority from one legal operator (e.g. individual or company) to another:

Fees

On 1 July 2025 most of our fees and charges increased by 3.4%, in line with the government's indexation policy.

  • Land-based aquaculture without wastewater discharge into a waterway or coastal waters

    Examples: containers, ponds, tanks.

    ActivityCost

    Aquaculture that does not discharge wastewater into a waterway

    		 $2,150.02

    Aquaculture of fish (excluding silver perch) that is listed as:

    • extinct in the wild
    • critically endangered
    • endangered
    • vulnerable
    • near threatened
    • conservation dependent

    These are listed under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and the IUCN Red List.

    		 $8,419.91

    Aquaculture of barramundi in Bulloo River basin, Lake Eyre drainage division or Murray-Darling drainage division

    		 $8,419.91

    Land-based aquaculture with wastewater discharge into a waterway or coastal waters

    Examples: containers, ponds, tanks.

    ActivityCost

    Aquaculture area (production and infrastructure) up to 100 hectares

    		 $4,121.07

    Aquaculture area (production and infrastructure) greater than 100 hectares

    		 $8,419.91

    Aquaculture in tidal or coastal waters without addition of feed

    Activity Area sizeCost

    Under a regional marine aquaculture plan

    		 Not applicable $2,150.02

    No aquaculture furniture

    		 Up to 50 hectares $2,150.02

    No aquaculture furniture

    		 More than 50 hectares $4,121.07

    Aquaculture furniture

    		 Up to 20 hectares $2,150.02

    Aquaculture furniture

    		 More than 20 hectares $4,121.07

    Aquaculture in tidal or coastal waters with addition of feed

    ActivityCost
    All aquaculture $20,961.49

    Other

    ActivityCost
    Aquaculture associated with an aquaculture development that is the subject of a coordinated project under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 $20,961.49

    Special assessments

    Aquaculture proposals that do not fit into the standard assessment categories above are assessed as 'special'. Special proposals involve unknown or additional risks that are not equivalent to standard scenarios, including the use of new or unproven techniques and technologies, biosecurity risks and indigenous status concerns of fish.

    LevelCost
    Level 1 assessment $698.10
    Level 2 assessment $2,150.02
    Level 3 assessment $4,121.07
    Level 4 assessment $8,419.91
    Level 5 assessment $20,691.49
  • ActionCost

    Amend aquaculture authority – will not change the assessment level

    		 $190.10
    Amend aquaculture authority – will result in a higher assessment level $190.10
    plus the difference between existing and new fee level
  • ActionCost
    Renew aquaculture authority $698.10
  • ActionCost

    Transfer aquaculture authority

    		 $190.10