Albany Aquaculture Development Zone
We are inviting applications from interested persons for aquaculture licences and leases within the Albany Aquaculture Development Zone - Oyster Harbour Area, which has been declared as the first stage of the zone. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development intends to begin considering applications received on or before 30 September 2020, with a view to making decisions as soon as practicable after that date.
The objects of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA) enable the allocation of resources to achieve the optimum benefits to the State and community.
To ensure the sites within the zone are allocated appropriately, the process to assess applications received will require consideration of individual applications according to the provisions of s.92 and s.97 of the FRMA, according to merit, and may also require consideration of applications competing for the same or overlapping areas.
Declaration of the second stage of the proposed areas of the zone in Princess Royal Harbour and King George Sound will occur following completion of formal negotiations with the Southern Ports Authority.
In total, the various areas of the Albany Aquaculture Zone are proposed to cover a total area of 998 hectares for shellfish farming.
How to apply
For details on the application process and instructions on how to apply, please refer to the following document:
Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 127: Aquaculture Development Zones in Western Australia – Policy Principles Relating to Considerations for Aquaculture Licences and Leases
Aquaculture licence application
You can now apply for an aquaculture licence online. Before you can start, you will need to request a personal account, below. A personal account enables an applicant to:
submit an application and correspond with us in a workflow-based environment;
check the status of an application and know its progress at any point in time; and
have a better user experience.
Request an online personal account
Email us at aquaculture@dpird.wa.gov.au with the following details:
name;
company name;
email address; and
contact phone number.
Once your request is received, your account will be set up by us and you will then be able to apply for a licence online.
For information on how to use the online form, refer to the Online Form User Guide.
We are currently working to include lease applications within the same forum; in the meantime, you are able to download the lease application form, below.
Aquaculture lease application forms
An aquaculture licence authorises a specific aquaculture activity in a defined site, whereas a lease provides tenure for the specified area of land or water. An aquaculture lease does not authorise the use of the leased area without an aquaculture licence.
Proposals in coastal waters or areas vested in the Minister for Fisheries are required to be accompanied by an application for an aquaculture lease as well as the relevant additional information sheet.
When making your application, you should also ensure that you are familiar with the Albany Aquaculture Development Zone – Oyster Bay Area and the background documents listed below.
Lodging an application
Licence applications can be lodged online, as outlined above.
Lease applications and additional information may be submitted electronically to aquaculture@dpird.wa.gov.au in MS Word format or pdf.
The Department will begin assessment of your application upon receipt of your electronic application form; however, we will not be able to proceed with the official consideration process until we have received the signature page with the original signatures of all relevant parties.
Additionally, we will not be able to proceed until we receive confirmation that payment has been made (that is, a receipt or internal notification from our Licensing Branch).
About the Albany Aquaculture Development Zone – Oyster Harbour Area
Existing farms operate within the boundaries of the Albany Aquaculture Development Zone - Oyster Bay Area. These existing sites occupy 173.819 hectares out of the total Oyster Harbour area of 500 hectares and accordingly that area is not available for licence and lease applications. Applicants must ensure their nominated site(s) do not infringe on the area of the existing site, the location of which is shown on the Albany Aquaculture Development Zone – Oyster Harbour Area map.
Applicants will need to consider spatial separation from existing sites and allow sufficient distance for the passage of vessels. As part of the assessment of applications, the Department will work with applicants to ensure appropriate distances have been proposed.
Background documents
The following documents will assist you in preparing an application:
Further information
For more information email aquaculture@dpird.wa.gov.au