The grace period to apply for a possession licence for live seahorses and certain freshwater turtles will end on August 31, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department says.

The control on seahorses and certain freshwater turtles, together with Whale Shark, Basking Shark and Bigleaf Mahogany, was tightened under the Animals & Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance on June 1.

The new measure was to reflect the latest changes in the listing of controlled species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora.

A licence is required for the import or export of the species with effect from the same date.

To facilitate legitimate trade without compromising Hong Kong's obligations under CITES, the possession or control of Whale Shark, Basking Shark, seahorses (excluding live animals) and Bigleaf Mahogany is exempted from the licensing requirements.

A three-month grace period is provided for keepers of live seahorses and certain freshwater turtles to apply for a possession licence.

Importing, exporting without a licence can result in $5m fine

Keepers of live seahorses and certain freshwater turtles are reminded to apply for a possession licence before the grace period ends.

Under the Animals & Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance, except with exemptions, the import, export and possession of a scheduled species, including their parts and derivatives, are subject to licensing controls.

Anyone found guilty of importing, exporting or possessing a highly endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $5 million, imprisonment for two years and mandatory forfeiture of the specimens.