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.
Stage 1 of the Scheme closed to applications on 30 June 2024.
To learn more about the assistance available under Stage 2 and Stage 3 click here.
Program information
The following assistance was available under this Scheme:
Grant for advice related to Scheme
Under this section, a grant of $3,000 may have been given to eligible PCFLs held by an applicant to seek legal or financial assistance in relation to the Scheme.
Primary Commercial Fishing Licences (PCFLs) and fishery symbols
Under this section, a payment was 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 was available for retired 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 was 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 was 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 was available to holders of certain PCFLs who decide to surrender their licences or surrender particular fishery symbols written on the licences.
QRIDA administered the Fisheries Structural Adjustment Scheme on behalf of the then Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (now Department of Primary Industries).
