South-east Marine Parks Network Fishing Business Assistance Program

Overview

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and Director of National Parks (DNP) is delivering this grant opportunity to assist eligible commercial fishers to transition their operations to the new management arrangements established by the 2025–35 South-east Marine Parks Network Management Plan (the Plan). The Plan, which came into effect on 13 February 2025 outlines how the DNP will manage the South-east Marine Parks network for 10 years: including through new zoning arrangements that both protect Australia’s marine environment and support Australia’s sustainable commercial fishing industry. The grant opportunity is designed to support commercial fishing operators who are directly and negatively impacted by changes to zoning in the Plan. This grant opportunity is based on the 2019 Fishing Business Assistance Program, which provided assistance to commercial fishers in SA, WA, NT, QLD, NSW and Commonwealth jurisdictions, to adjust their business to the management arrangements established by 5 new marine park management plans introduced in 2018.