Northern Territory Recreational Fishing Grants Scheme

⁠⁠⁠Overview
The Recreational Fishing Grants Scheme (NTRFGS) will offer grant funding for community projects that grow and support recreational fishing in the Territory.

The scheme is funded by the Northern Territory Government’s $50-million RecFishing Futures Program and administered by the Fisheries Division of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade.

In the 2021-22 financial year, the NTRFGS will offer grant funding to eligible organisations for projects and activities that directly improve recreational fishing experiences and opportunities in the Northern Territory.

Eligible organisations can apply for small grants of up to $15,000, or large grants up to $100,000, for finite projects and activities that align with the NTRFGS’s objectives.

Applications are sought from fishing clubs, Traditional Land Owners (Aboriginal Land Trusts), incorporated bodies and businesses. It is expected that successful projects will be announced early in the 2021-22 financial year.

Objectives

The objectives of the NTRFGS are to:

• Improve recreational fishing experiences in the NT;
• Create enhanced recreational fishing opportunities; and/or
• Open new opportunities for recreational fishing by developing infrastructure for fishing related visitation.

Who can apply
Funding is available to not for profit organisations only.

To be eligible for funding an organisation must

• meet one of the following:

1. be incorporated under and compliant with one of: the Associations Act (NT), the Corporations Act 2001, the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act (Commonwealth), any other Act of Parliament
2. be incorporated under and compliant with the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act (Commonwealth)
3. be a local governing body or an incorporated organisation delivering local government or municipal services
4. be incorporated under and compliant with the Associations Act (NT)

• be physically located and actively operating in the NT

Who can't apply
To be eligible for funding an organisation must not

• have an outstanding acquittal and or other accountability requirement (this grant)

Types of organisations that are not eligible for funding include

• Universities

What can be funded

Finite projects and activities with outcomes that align with the NTRFGS objectives and meet eligibility requirements will be assessed for funding.

Examples of projects that may be eligible for funding include:

• Infrastructure to facilitate new or improved recreational fishing access opportunities (e.g. camps, shelters, boat ramps, amenities etc.). Projects that are put forward by, or in partnership with, Traditional Owners are encouraged and will be prioritised;
• Fishing platforms / shelters / seats / structures at land based fishing locations and boat ramps;
• Fish cleaning or wash-down facilities;
• Best practice recreational fishing education programs;
• Fish habitat restoration projects;
• Capacity building programs (e.g. fish tagging/research), where a clear need can be demonstrated; and
• Family Fishing Days / fishing clinics programs / Gone Fishing Day Events.

Multiple projects or activities

If an applicant is seeking funding for more than one project or activity, a separate application is required for each project or activity.

Each application is considered on its individual merits and it is not always possible to fund all applications. Funding is not automatic and should not be anticipated.

Project Categories

Projects will need to fit into the one of the following two categories:

Category 1: Small Grant Projects up to $15,000

Primarily educational, capacity building and participation activities including fishing events, fishing classes, educational materials and equipment.

Category 2: Priority Large Grant Projects up to $100,000

Strategic infrastructure projects that increase/improve access to fishing locations and/or create new recreational fishing opportunities will be considered favourably.

Eligibility criteria and application requirements are the same for both small and large grants, however, different reporting arrangements may apply. Please refer to page 13 of these guidelines for more information about reporting requirements.

What can't be funded

• Projects which do not substantially align with and further the objectives of the NTRFGS;
• Projects that have been commenced or completed prior to the application (i.e. grants funding cannot be used for retrospective purposes);
• The entire cost of a project or activity (cash or in-kind co-contributions are expected);
• Commercial business ventures (i.e. for-profit activities);
• Projects on private land, unless secure, long-term public access agreements can be demonstrated;
• Projects that do not have the landowner’s permission;
• Projects that require ongoing funding from the Government or have ongoing operational costs such as electricity, water or other utilities, unless it can be demonstrated that the applicant can meet these future costs;
• Fishing competitions;
• Lobbying, activist activities or animal rights campaigns; or
• Projects with management fees where the project is on council land.

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