South Africa’s environment minister said he won’t immediately approve trophy hunting quotas for black rhinos, elephants and leopards, deepening a dispute with an industry that generates R44-billion rand in economic activity.

Dion George, the minister, said he will wait until a judge rules on a case filed by Wildlife Ranching South Africa demanding that the allocation be set. The organisation has said a five-year hiatus in the setting of quotas is hurting Africa’s biggest hunting industry and harming its reputation with foreign hunters, who are willing to pay as much as $350 000 (about R6-million) to shoot a rhino.

“Once a judgment has been delivered, the Minister will consider the court’s ruling and decide on the way forward in line with South Africa’s conservation objectives,” George’s office said.

The hold on quotas clashes with the policy endorsed by George and his predecessor, Barbara Creecy, of pushing for more sustainable use of South Africa’s biodiversity and natural assets. Still, the hunting of iconic species, such as endangered rhinos, is facing a backlash from animal-rights activists.

The industry has lost as much as R2.25-billion as a result of the impasse, with the country ceding market share to regional competitors, Richard York, the chief executive officer of Wildlife Ranching South Africa, has said previously.

York wasn’t immediately available to comment on the minister’s latest decision.

The United Nations’ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species has given South Africa the right to permit the hunting of as many as 150 elephants annually, 150 male leopards and up to 0.5% of the national black rhino population, or about 10 animals.

A permit to hunt an elephant costs between $75 000 and $100 000, while hunting a leopard costs as much as $40 000.