You will need a lease and licence to operate an aquaculture farm in South Australian waters. A lease will grant you the exclusive use of an area of water for marine aquaculture. A licence will allow you to undertake a specified marine aquaculture activity at the leased site.
There are four types of marine aquaculture leases:
- Pilot leases are short-term leases used to trial aquaculture development in new areas
- Production leases are long-term leases used by aquaculture operators in existing aquaculture zones for established operations
- Research leases are used within or outside an existing aquaculture zone to increase, enhance or diversify aquaculture production
- Emergency leases are granted within or outside an existing aquaculture zone where it is necessary for the protection of the environment or the preservation of endangered aquaculture stock.
Aquaculture leases within a current aquaculture zone must be endorsed by the Aquaculture Tenure Allocation Board before being assessed by the agency.
There are eight types of marine aquaculture licence:
- Intertidal mollusc licences authorise the farming of molluscs and algae, including oysters.
- Subtidal mollusc licences authorise the farming of molluscs and algae offshore, including mussels, scallops and oysters.
- Abalone licences authorise the farming of abalone and algae offshore.
- Finfish licences authorise the farming of finfish offshore in sea-cages.
- Tuna licences authorise the farming of Southern Bluefin Tuna and algae offshore in sea-cages
- Algae licences allow the farming of Algae in waters offshore using variable farming structures
- Tourism licences authorise aquaculture in waters inshore and offshore for tourism purposes
- Miscellaneous licences authorise aquaculture in waters inshore and offshore for the holding of empty aquaculture farming structures or temporary holding of stock in structures.
You will need separate authorisations to move stock in or out of South Australia and to use hormones or veterinary chemicals on the aquaculture site.
