The risk assessment report must, as a minimum, include the following-
- most recent ecological information regarding the relevant listed threatened or protected marine species, including-
(i) the taxonomy of the species, including the class, order, family, scientific name (genus, species and sub-species), scientific synonyms and common names of the species;
(ii) its conservation status;
(iii) the population status and trends of the species, including-
(aa) its current national and local population status, including abundance and distribution;
(bb) the size of its local population which will be affected by the restricted activity to which the application applies; and
(cc) its national and local population trends;
(iv) the geographic distribution and trends of the species, including-
(aa) the distribution of the natural population;
(bb) the distribution of any translocated and introduced populations; and
(cc) the geographic distribution trends;
(v) the requirements of the species with respect to habitat and climate;
(vi) the role of the species in its ecosystem, taking into account-
(aa) whether the species is a keystone or indicator species;
(bb) the level of the species in the food-chain; and
(cc) the functions that the species performs in its ecosystem; and
(vii) the major threats affecting the species nationally and locally;
- information regarding the restricted activity to which the application applies, including-
(i) the nature of the restricted activity;
(ii) the reason for the restricted activity;
(iii) where the restricted activity is to be carried out;
(iv) the gender, age and number of the specimens of the species involved; and
(v) he intended destination of the specimens, if they are to be translocated;
- any regulations, policies, norms and standards, biodiversity management plans, non-detriment findings or international agreements binding on the Republic which may be applicable to the application;
- the potential risks associated with the restricted activity to the particular listed threatened or protected marine species and a specific population of such species or to any other species or ecosystems, including-
(i) degradation and fragmentation of the habitat of the species;
(ii) creation of a significant change in an ecosystem caused by the removal or addition of keystone species;
(iii) over-exploitation of a species;
(iv) hybridisation;
(v) out-breeding; and
(vi) introduction of disease;
- evaluation of the risk identified under paragraph (d) in terms of-
(i) the likelihood of the risk being realised; and
(ii) the severity of the risk and consequences for other species, habitats and ecosystems;
- any management measures that must be applied to minimise potential risks;
- management of potential risks; and
- any other information as the issuing authority may determine.