Net buybacks, boat refit grants and grants for supply chain businesses significantly impacted by the phase-out of gillnets are available in the final stage of the $125 million structural adjustment payments for commercial fishing sector members affected by the implementation of reforms in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Great Sandy Marine Park (GSMP) and Gulf of Carpentaria.
Available in stage 3 are:
- buybacks of useable gillnets at a rate of $12.50 a metre, and an opportunity for unusable gillnets and mesh panels to be surrendered free-of-charge. Nets will be recycled and repurposed into products such as carpets and sunglasses
- grants of up to $50,000 for gillnet boat refits
- matched diversification and resilience grants of up to $100,000 for GBR and GSMP supply chain businesses that have lost 75% or more of their business turnover due to the changes.
Stage 2 support also remains open for:
- Gulf of Carpentaria commercial fishers impacted by the recently announced gillnet-free areas
- skippers and crew of commercial fishers affected by the phase-out of gillnets in the GBR, changes to the GSMP zoning plan, or the new Gulf of Carpentaria gillnet-free areas
- commercial fishers without N1, N2 or N4 on their licence who want to surrender their licence or symbols
- GSMP commercial aquarium fishers
- hammerhead shark commercial fishers.
The $3,000 grants for independent advice, and quota and loss of income payments released late last year, are still available for eligible fishers in the GBR and GSMP.
Applications can be made via the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority, while free and confidential assistance in completing applications is available from the Rural Financial Counselling Service in southern Queensland or northern Queensland.
The State Government has partnered with Stay Afloat, who are providing free and confidential social and emotional wellbeing support to to those affected in the commercial fishing sector.
Commercial fishing sector supply chain businesses are also able to access Queensland Government support, grants and mentoring programs.
Visit https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/commercial/future-fishing
