The TOPS Regulations, 2007 make provision for a compulsory risk assessment for the carrying out of restricted activities involving specimens of listed critically endangered species. Additional circumstances, in which a risk assessment would be compulsory, were included in the draft revised TOPS Regulations, e.g. when a captive-bred or artificially propagated specimen is released into a national protected area, or when a restricted activity is carried out in a listed threatened ecosystem. Subsequent to the assessment of comments, provision has been made for the exclusion of SANBI, SANParks, provincial conservation authorities or protected areas of local municipalities from the requirement of a risk assessment, when a restricted activity is necessary for the conservation of a critically endangered species. New provision included relating to an assessment of risks: An assessment of risks is not as comprehensive as a risk assessment involving listed critically endangered species and may be done by any person, provided that such person must have adequate knowledge of NEMBA. The minimum information to be provided is prescribed in the regulations. In addition to circumstances in which an assessment of risks will be compulsory, e.g. when listed fish species are introduced in dams in private land within the natural distribution range of the species, or when listed game species are moved from a wildlife system to an extensive wildlife system, an issuing authority may require an assessment of risks as it deems necessary. New provisions included relating to the carrying out of restricted activities involving live specimens of listed fish species: Due to the complexities relating to fish species and the difficulties to prevent their spread in natural water systems, the general proposed approach is that most of the restricted activities would be prohibited, except for low-risk escape research facilities or provincial conservation authorities, and then generally only for conservation purposes: Transport is permissible: Within the same catchment of the species; To private land with closed waters within the natural distribution range; By registered low-risk escape research facility (in or outside the natural distribution range); across different catchments within the natural distribution range by a provincial conservation authority for conservation purposes; Possession/ keeping is permissible:
The TOPS Regulations, 2007 make provision for a compulsory risk assessment for the carrying out of restricted activities involving specimens of listed critically endangered species. Additional circumstances, in which a risk assessment would be compulsory, were included in the draft revised TOPS Regulations, e.g. when a captive-bred or artificially propagated specimen is released into a national protected area, or when a restricted activity is carried out in a listed threatened ecosystem. Subsequent to the assessment of comments, provision has been made for the exclusion of SANBI, SANParks, provincial conservation authorities or protected areas of local municipalities from the requirement of a risk assessment, when a restricted activity is necessary for the conservation of a critically endangered species. New provision included relating to an assessment of risks: An assessment of risks is not as comprehensive as a risk assessment involving listed critically endangered species and may be done by any person, provided that such person must have adequate knowledge of NEMBA. The minimum information to be provided is prescribed in the regulations. In addition to circumstances in which an assessment of risks will be compulsory, e.g. when listed fish species are introduced in dams in private land within the natural distribution range of the species, or when listed game species are moved from a wildlife system to an extensive wildlife system, an issuing authority may require an assessment of risks as it deems necessary. New provisions included relating to the carrying out of restricted activities involving live specimens of listed fish species: Due to the complexities relating to fish species and the difficulties to prevent their spread in natural water systems, the general proposed approach is that most of the restricted activities would be prohibited, except for low-risk escape research facilities or provincial conservation authorities, and then generally only for conservation purposes: Transport is permissible: Within the same catchment of the species; To private land with closed waters within the natural distribution range; By registered low-risk escape research facility (in or outside the natural distribution range); across different catchments within the natural distribution range by a provincial conservation authority for conservation purposes; Possession/ keeping is permissible: