Commonwealth fishing levies

AFMA charges an annual levy to holders of Commonwealth fishing concessions. This levy helps cover the costs of managing fisheries and supporting their long-term sustainability. The Commonwealth commercial fishing industry pays for costs directly attributable to its operations, while the Australian Government funds activities that deliver broader community benefits. For more information, see AFMA’s Cost Recovery Implementation Statement.

The levies legislative framework enables the levy system to operate, see Fishing Levy Legislation.

The Commonwealth fishing concessions are an annual charge that applies to the financial year, covering the period from 1 July to 30 June. The Commonwealth fishing concessions are paid in three equal instalments which are due February, April and June (for more information, see Fisheries Management (Fishing Levy Collection) Regulations 2018). For payment options, check the Notice of Levy Amount Payable.

Late payment penalties apply if we receive your payment after the due date. Make sure you plan your payment early enough to clear in our account. Penalties are calculated daily at a rate of 20 per cent of the outstanding debt until the amount is paid in full.

Payment plans for levies and penalties are available in cases of financial hardship. A payment plan allows you to pay your levy by instalments. An administration fee of $220 applies when entering an arrangement to pay, in addition to the late payment penalties.

We encourage you to contact AFMA as soon as possible before the levy notice due date to determine whether you are eligible for a payment plan.

If you have questions about levies accounts, how to pay levies or levy debts contact:
Phone: 1300 723 621
Email: invoices@afma.gov.au
 

2025–26 Commonwealth Fisheries Levy Amounts

GST is not applied to Australian Government levies.