You will need a pearling licence or permit, including a farm lease, if you intend to carry out pearling. Pearling means practising or attempting to practise taking, removing, moving, dumping, holding, storing, transporting pearl oysters or practising pearl culture techniques.
A pearl oyster fishery is subject to quotas that control the total number of oysters removed from the fishing grounds each year.
A pearl oyster fishery has been declared as a limited entry fishery. This means no new licences are being issued and, if you intend to start pearl farming, you will need to purchase a minimum quota from an existing pearl farmer.
A separate hatchery licence or permit is needed if you intend to carry out hatchery activities.
Please consult the Contact Officer for more information.
