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Compliance reference

Is it on the NEMBA list?

Search any fish, plant or invertebrate to check its status under South Africa's National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) Alien and Invasive Species Lists.

Gazette No. 43726 · 18 Sept 2020 ↗ Freshwater fish · invertebrates · aquatic plants

Cross-checked against later DFFE amendments (e.g. the 2021 rainbow/brown trout delisting) — last reviewed 13 September 2026.

What the categories mean

✕ Category 1a Prohibited everywhere it's listed. Must be eradicated. Cannot be kept, bred, transported, sold or traded — no permit is available.
✕ Category 1b Prohibited. Must be controlled as part of a national or provincial management programme. Cannot be kept, bred, transported, sold or traded — no permit is available.
! Category 2 Restricted. A permit from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is required for any restricted activity — including keeping, breeding, moving or selling. Legal to trade with a valid permit.
● Category 3 Controlled trade. Generally may not be bred, sold or moved into new catchments/areas without meeting specific conditions — often with exemptions for existing stock, catch-and-release, or particular provinces. Always check the species note.
✓ Not listed Not currently a listed invasive species under NEMBA — either never proposed, or proposed and later excluded/removed (as happened with rainbow and brown trout in 2021). Not the same as "safe forever" — listings can change.

Many species carry different categories in different provinces, or specific exemptions (e.g. ornamental koi carp, sterile hybrids, licensed aquaculture). This tool gives the general position — always check the area note for the specific species, read the full gazette text, and confirm with DFFE or a permit specialist before importing, breeding or selling.