If your business or organisation works on or around Australia’s coast, there’s a federal grant program worth knowing about: Our Marine Parks Grants. Round 5 is open now, with $5.6 million available, and it’s not just for conservation groups, tourism operators and commercial and recreational fishing businesses are explicitly named as eligible applicants. This guide explains, in plain language, what it is, who it’s for, and what you need to know before you apply.
What is Our Marine Parks Grants?
Our Marine Parks Grants is an Australian Government program, administered by Parks Australia (part of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) and delivered through the Community Grants Hub. It funds projects that help manage and protect Australia’s 60 Australian Marine Parks, while genuinely involving the people who use and live near them.
Since the program began, it has invested $28.2 million across 91 projects over four earlier rounds, an average of roughly $310,000 per project, though individual projects have varied in size. Round 5 has $5.6 million allocated.
Who qualifies?
The official program page names a broad and specific list of eligible applicants: regional communities, First Nations organisations, the tourism sector, scientists, and both recreational and commercial fishing businesses, including the seafood industry. This is genuinely wider than a typical conservation-only grant, if your business operates tours, charters, or fishing operations connected to a marine park, this is worth a look, not just something for environmental non-profits.
The official summary page doesn’t spell out every detailed exclusion or eligibility criterion, so before applying, check the full guidelines on GrantConnect to confirm your specific situation qualifies.
What can the funding be used for?
Based on the official program description, funded activities should do one or more of the following: increase engagement in managing Australian Marine Parks, support First Nations stewardship of traditional Sea Country, improve sustainable fishing practices, carry out practical conservation work protecting marine species and habitats, or build knowledge and understanding of the marine parks themselves.
How much funding is available?
Round 5 has a confirmed total pool of $5.6 million. The exact minimum and maximum funding per individual project has not yet been published on Parks Australia’s official summary page. A commonly cited per-project range of $50,000 to $500,000 has not been able to be verified against that official source, so treat it as indicative only, not a confirmed figure. What we can say with confidence is that historical projects across the program have averaged around $310,000, though actual project sizes have varied. For an exact figure, check the current Round 5 guidelines directly through GrantConnect.
Key dates
Round 5 closes 27 October 2026. This date is confirmed directly from Parks Australia’s own official page, so it can be relied on.
How to apply
Applications for Our Marine Parks Grants are submitted through GrantConnect, the Australian Government’s central grants system. For questions about the program, Parks Australia can be contacted directly using the contact details listed on their official program page.
Documents you may need to prepare
The official summary page doesn’t publish a specific document checklist. As a general guide for a competitive federal grants program of this type, applicants are commonly asked to describe their proposed activities and expected outcomes, demonstrate relevant experience or community connections, and provide organisational or business details. Treat this as a general guide only, the real requirements will be set out in the official GrantConnect guidelines.
Common mistakes to avoid
Don’t assume this is conservation-only. Tourism operators and fishing businesses are explicitly eligible, don’t rule yourself out because the program sounds environmental.
Don’t quote an unconfirmed funding figure in your own planning. Use the confirmed $5.6 million round total and the historical average as your planning guide, and check GrantConnect directly for the precise per-project range before finalising your budget.
Don’t leave the application to the last minute. With a fixed closing date and no indication of rolling assessment, treat 27 October 2026 as a hard deadline.
Don’t skip a genuine management or conservation connection. Funded projects need to tie back to engagement with, or protection of, an actual Australian Marine Park, a generic business proposal without that link is unlikely to fit.
How competitive is this grant likely to be?
The official page doesn’t publish applicant numbers, so we won’t invent a competitiveness estimate. What we can say plainly: with a fixed $5.6 million pool covering the whole country, and a broad list of eligible applicant types competing for it, this is a genuinely competitive process, not a formality.
What to prepare before you apply
- Confirm your connection to a marine park. Identify which Australian Marine Park your proposed activity relates to, and how it supports management, conservation, or community engagement there.
- Check the current guidelines on GrantConnect. Get the exact funding range and eligibility detail for Round 5 directly from the source, rather than relying on a third-party summary.
- Build your case around the program’s actual goals. Whether it’s sustainable fishing, tourism engagement, First Nations Sea Country stewardship, or practical conservation, tie your proposal clearly to one of the program’s stated priorities.
- Apply with time to spare given the fixed 27 October 2026 deadline.
Related funding options
If you’re a tourism operator, it’s worth also exploring our broader guide to tourism grants. If your business is based outside a major city, our regional business grants guide covers other non-metropolitan funding options. Community and First Nations organisations may also want to look at our community development grants guide.
Not sure yet which type of grant actually fits your business? Grants Assist’s eligibility assessment tool is a good starting point to quickly narrow down realistic options based on your situation, rather than reading through dozens of individual grant pages one by one.
The bottom line
Our Marine Parks Grants Round 5 is a real, currently-open Australian Government program with $5.6 million available, closing 27 October 2026, and it explicitly includes tourism operators and commercial and recreational fishing businesses among its eligible applicants, not just conservation groups. The exact per-project funding range isn’t confirmed on the official summary page, so check GrantConnect directly for that detail, but the opportunity itself is real and worth investigating if your work connects to an Australian Marine Park.
Want to keep exploring your options? Grants Assist’s online portal gives you access to detailed, regularly updated information on grants and assistance programs across Australia. Explore the Grants Assist portal to browse more programs like this one, or call us on 1300-005-999 to speak with one of our advisors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does Our Marine Parks Grants Round 5 offer?
Round 5 has a confirmed total pool of $5.6 million. The exact per-project minimum and maximum isn’t stated on the official summary page; historical projects across the program have averaged around $310,000. Check GrantConnect directly for the precise Round 5 range.
Who can apply for Our Marine Parks Grants?
Regional communities, First Nations organisations, the tourism sector, scientists, and recreational and commercial fishing businesses, including the seafood industry.
When does Our Marine Parks Grants Round 5 close?
27 October 2026.
Is this grant only for environmental or conservation groups?
No. Tourism operators and fishing businesses are explicitly named as eligible applicants, alongside conservation-focused organisations.
How do I apply?
Applications are submitted through GrantConnect, the Australian Government’s central grants system. For questions, contact Parks Australia using the contact details listed on their official program page.
