Apply for a commercial aquaculture licence

A commercial aquaculture licence is for large scale commercial facilities with a total water volume of more than 10,000 litres. Read about aquaculture in the NT for information about the different types of licence.

To apply for a licence, you must do the following:

• identify the site and right to use
• get other approvals
• prepare a notice of intent
• complete and submit a licence application.

NT Fisheries will send your application to the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) for an environmental assessment as part of the approval process.

Before you start to apply for a licence, you should discuss your proposal with NT Fisheries.

Identify the site and right to use

You will need to identify the site of your proposed aquaculture farm and provide proof that you have permission to use the site.

It is easier to get a licence on land which is privately owned or leased.

You may need a Crown lease to farm in areas of the sea in the NT.

Find out how to apply for a Crown lease.

Get other approvals

You may need to apply for other government approvals or permits to start your aquaculture farm.

These may include any of the following:

• a water extraction licence
• a waste discharge licence - go to the Northern Territory Environmental Protection Authority website.
• a permit to construct or alter works - if a dam is involved
• development consent
• a land clearing permit
• an Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority Certificate - go to the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority website.

You will need to show that you have all the approvals or permits needed.

This must include photocopies of all permits, licences and other approvals.

If you don’t need any other approvals or permits, get a written statement from the relevant government agencies saying so.

Prepare a notice of intent

Once you have a site and the right to use the land or sea together with other approvals, you can prepare a notice of intent for an aquaculture licence

Your notice of intent must have all the information that NT Fisheries will need to decide whether or not to grant you a licence.

You should talk to NT Fisheries before starting your notice of intent to make sure you have all the information you need. Contact the senior licensing officer on 08 8999 2370.

Read more about preparing a notice of intent.

Submit an application

To submit a commercial aquaculture licence application, contact Fisheries Licensing.

Licence fee

The commercial aquaculture licence fee for the 2026–27 licensing year (ending 30 June 2027) is $2,100, including a $764 licence fee and a $1,313 NTSC levy.

After you submit

NT Fisheries will send your application to the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA).

The NT EPA will look at your notice of intent or licence proposal and tell you what level of environmental assessment is needed.

Large-scale aquaculture developments usually need an environmental impact statement.

Read more about the assessment on the NT EPA website.

Once you have all approvals and consents, and your proposal has passed environmental assessment, your aquaculture licence can be issued.

Contact

If you have any questions, contact the senior licensing officer by calling 08 8999 2370.