Aquaculture Licensing 

To be legally entitled to undertake the activity of commercial aquaculture, an aquaculture licence is required.

Licence applicants complete an Aquaculture Licence Proposal, which describes the nature of the proposed venture, and establishes that other Government consent/entitlements/permits/licences have been obtained, including an environmental management plan.

Licences are subject to conditions. These provide the basic framework of what can, and what cannot be done as part of the activity of aquaculture. A range of legislation covers various aspects of aquaculture and its environmental sustainability.

An aquaculture licence, when issued, is issued on the basis of the description supplied in the proposal. If the activity changes from that originally described the proponents must apply to have the licence modified to cover the new activities.

Persons/groups undertaking aquaculture must have the right to use the land or sea involved (that is, have tenure). In the case of areas of sea, a specific Crown lease is required and is issued under a distinct piece of legislation.

For further information please download the guide to writing a notice of intent for aquaculture in the NT or contact NT Fisheries on (08) 8999 2144

Related Legislation

• Fisheries Act 
• Fisheries Regulations 
• Environmental Assessment Act 
• Water Act 
• All Northern Territory Legislation