Aquaculture (Standard Lease and Licence Conditions) Policy 2022
About the Policy
The Aquaculture (Standard Lease and Licence Conditions) Policy 2022 (the Policy) was approved on 16 February 2022, and will come into operation on 18 August 2022.
The Policy standardises aquaculture lease and licence conditions which will encourage aquaculture development and improve investor confidence by simplifying the regulatory environment, including reducing ‘red-tape’, for aquaculture operators.
Conditions contained within the Policy constitute conditions of an aquaculture lease and licence and, are to be read as forming part of a lease and licence holder’s obligations. Individual lease and licence certificates containing conditions will still remain, however the Policy replaces the majority of these conditions, irrespective of when a lease/licence was issued.
The Policy provides flexibility to allow certain conditions within the Policy to be overridden by specific conditions on an individual aquaculture lease and licence certificate where appropriate. Aquaculture lease and licence holders need to understand the conditions on their individual lease and licence certificates, and how the Policy conditions interact.
From 18 August 2022 aquaculture lease and licence holders will need to abide by conditions contained within the Policy and also individual lease and licence certificates. PIRSA intends to progressively amend and re-issue all aquaculture lease and licence certificates to reflect standardised conditions within the Policy, with only conditions specific to the activity being undertaken on a lease or licence remaining. PIRSA will continue to provide information to all lease and licence holders affected by changes in conditions to clarify any new obligations.
Most conditions contained within the Policy are existing conditions of aquaculture leases and licences with their intent maintained, so impacts to aquaculture obligations will be minimal. The implementation of the Policy may require changes to existing aquaculture infrastructure or farming practices.
There will be a six month period (18 February to 17 August 2022) to allow aquaculture lease and licence holders sufficient time to understand their obligations and to make or prepare for any necessary infrastructure or operational changes.
Policy development process
The Policy was developed according to the requirements of sections 12 and 13 of the Aquaculture Act 2001. This included a two month public notification period inviting submissions on the Policy.
A supporting report (), with attachment 1 () and attachment 2 (), was developed which provides further detailed information regarding each condition in the Policy, and the Policy development process.
A submission response document () was also developed to provide feedback on submissions received during the public notification process.
Implementation process
Phase 1: Prior to 18 August 2022
- Policy conditions don’t apply
- Abide by current lease/licence certificate conditions
- Lease and licence holder education on Policy requirements:
- PIRSA correspondence
- PIRSA information sessions
- PIRSA website information.
- Lease and licence holder preparation:
- Reading PIRSA information/documentation
- Preparing for/undertaking any required infrastructure/farming practice changes.
Phase 2: 18 August 2022
- Policy conditions apply
- Abide by Policy conditions and any lease/licence certificate conditions not overridden by the Policy
- Continued lease and licence holder education by PIRSA
- Continued lease and licence holder preparation for/undertaking any required infrastructure/farming practice changes.
Phase 3: Post 18 August 2022
- PIRSA progressively reissue all lease/licence certificates
- Abide by Policy conditions and any lease/licence certificate conditions not overridden by the Policy
- Continued lease and licence holder education by PIRSA
- Continued lease and licence holder infrastructure/farming practice changes if required.
Documentation
- Aquaculture (Standard Lease and Licence Conditions) Policy 2022
- Supporting Report ()
- Submission Response Document ()
Contact
If you have any queries regarding the Policy please contact:
Matthew Hoare – Aquaculture Advisor
Email: matthew.hoare@sa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8429 0400 or (08) 8207 5333