This guide provides information and links to services that will help applicants understand the approvals process for an aquaculture licence and/or lease.
It also provides information about the opportunity for an affected interest group and/or person to make a public comment submission about your proposal.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) manages the approvals process.
An aquaculture licence authorises a specific aquaculture activity at 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.
Appropriate tenure is required when applying for an aquaculture licence site. This means that in coastal waters or areas vested in the Minister for Fisheries, applicants must also apply for an aquaculture lease.
(Coastal waters are defined as waters within three nautical miles of the mainland. Areas vested in the Minister are the Abrolhos Islands A-Class Reserve, the Albany Aquaculture Park and Oyster Harbour.)
