Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme
The Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme aims to support holders of eligible primary commercial fishing licences (PCFLs), fishery symbols and quota units who are affected by the closure of certain fisheries in the Great Barrier Reef region, or fisheries affected by changes under the Marine Parks Act 2004 to zoning or management in the Great Sandy region.
Program information
The following assistance is available under this Scheme; you may be able to apply under more than one section:
Grant for advice related to Scheme
Under this section, a grant of $3,000 may be given for eligible PCFLs held by an applicant to seek legal or financial assistance in relation to the Scheme.
You can apply for this grant separately or at the same time as applying for the other assistance available under the Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme.
Primary Commercial Fishing Licences (PCFLs) and fishery symbols
Under this section, a payment is available to holders of PCFLs:
- on which a retired fishery symbol is written (‘N1’, ‘N2’, ‘N4’ and ‘S’) or
- with a ‘K1’, ‘K2’, ‘K3’, ‘K4’, ‘K5’, ‘K6’, ‘K7’, ‘K8’, and ‘N10’ fishery symbol written on them are affected and have lost access to certain commercial fisheries in the Great Barrier Reef region.
Payments for quota units
Under this section, a payment is available for retired quota units that may be given to an applicant for quota units held by the applicant for:
- barramundi and king threadfin in all Queensland waters (management region 1-5)
- grey mackerel only in the Great Barrier Reef region (management region 1-4).
A payment is available for surrendered quota units held by the applicant for grey mackerel, school mackerel and whiting in management region 5.
Payments for loss of income
Under this section, a payment is available equivalent to three financial years of projected income to affected fishers in the Great Barrier Reef and Great Sandy regions based on the applicant’s fishing data.
Surrender of PCFLs and fishery symbols
Under this section, a payment to holders of certain PCFLs who decide to surrender their licences or surrender particular fishery symbols written on the licences.
Round 1 of this assistance will close to applications on 30 April 2024.
How to apply
If you are an eligible commercial fisher under the Scheme you should have received formal correspondence from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF).
To apply for assistance under this Scheme, you will need to download the application form and submit this with your supporting information to QRIDA by one of the following:
- Email: fisheriesstructuraladjustment@qrida.qld.gov.au
- Post: GPO Box 211 Brisbane QLD 4001
QRIDA is administering the Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
For further assistance
If you require further assistance please contact the relevant agency as below:
- If you have a question regarding your application - please contact QRIDA on 1800 623 946 or email fisheriesstructuraladjustment@qrida.qld.gov.au
- If you have not received a letter from DAF and you believe you are eligible - please contact DAF on 13 25 23 or email future.fishing@daf.qld.gov.au
- If you have received a letter from DAF and wish to dispute the fishing data provided - please contact DAF on 13 25 23 or email FishDataCoordinator@daf.qld.gov.au
Additional Support
The Rural Financial Counselling Service are available to provide free financial counselling to fishing enterprises:
- Rural Financial Counselling Service - Southern Queensland
- Rural Financial Counselling Service - Northern Queensland
Questions concerning your personal taxation circumstances should be directed to your taxation adviser or the Australian Taxation Office on 13 72 86.
Your health and wellbeing
Need to talk? Take care of your health and wellbeing by contacting one of the many support networks available:
• Stay Afloat – provides confidential mental health support and advice
• Primary Health Network
• Royal Flying Doctor Service mental health clinicians - For 24 hour medical and emergency help 1800 733 772.
• Head to Health - free or low-cost Australian digital mental health services.
• ReachOUT is a website-based mental health service for young people.
• Lifeline, 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services - Call 131 114.
• MensLine Australia - information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns. Call 1300 78 99 78.
• Suicide Call Back Service - 24/7 telephone and online counselling. Call 1300 659 467
If you believe you are eligible for the Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme but have not received any written correspondence from DAF please call 13 25 23 or email future.fishing@daf.qld.gov.au
If you have queries on the catch history records that have been provided by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries please call 13 25 23 or email FishDataCoordinator@daf.qld.gov.au.
Applicants can choose to surrender any of the following in Round Two:
- the fishery symbols ‘C1’, ‘L1’, ‘L2’, ‘L3’, ‘N11’, ‘RQ’, ‘S’, ‘SM’, ‘T1’, ‘T2, ‘T5’, ‘T6’, ‘T7’, ‘T8’ or ‘T9’; or
- a PCFL
Applications for Round Two will open on 8 April 2024 and close 30 April 2024, subject to the availability of funding. Applicants will be assessed in priority order after Round Two has closed.
To see more information about priority, eligibility, and availability of funding under this Round, please read the guidelines.
To apply for assistance, you will need to download and complete an application form.
Please do not send links with your application form. If the file is too large, please send multiple emails or as a zip file attachment.
Email your application to fisheriesstructuraladjustment@qrida.qld.gov.au or alternatively, please print and post your completed application to QRIDA at the address below:
GPO Box 211, Brisbane QLD 4001
Yes, you are entitled to a decision review. See reviewing a decision for more information.
QRIDA will contact you via telephone, email, SMS or post. Should you be concerned about whether contact you have received is genuine, please contact QRIDA on Freecall 1800 623 946 and ask to speak with your Portfolio Manager.
If your application is successful QRIDA will pay the funds to your nominated bank account.
