KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a public advisory issued this Monday, Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has reinforced longstanding legal protections for all wild duck populations across the island, reminding residents and visitors that harming, hunting, or trapping these birds is a criminal offense under national law. The official warning comes in response to verified, credible accounts of unregulated hunting and trapping activities documented across multiple Jamaican parishes, actions that NEPA confirms directly violate the island’s Wild Life Protection Act.
This piece of legislation extends full legal protection to every native bird species in Jamaica, encompassing not only all year-round resident duck populations but also migratory duck varieties that travel to the island on a seasonal basis. To clarify the scope of protections, NEPA outlines key differences between the two groups: resident species such as the vulnerable West Indian Whistling Duck (*Dendrocygna arborea*) live and breed within Jamaica’s borders year-round, while migratory species including the Blue-winged Teal (*Spatula discors*) and Ring-necked Duck (*Aythya collaris*) rely on Jamaica’s warm, resource-rich landscapes as a critical stopover and wintering habitat each year.
Jamaica’s expansive network of wetlands and inland waterways does more than support local waterfowl: these ecosystems serve as globally important conservation sites that underpin biodiversity across the Caribbean region and the broader Western Hemisphere. Illegal hunting of wild ducks, NEPA emphasizes, does not just threaten targeted waterfowl populations—it disrupts the delicate ecological balance of these critical habitats, putting the entire range of wildlife that depends on wetland ecosystems at risk.
In response to the recently reported incidents, the agency confirmed that it has already launched formal investigations to identify and prosecute individuals involved in the illegal activity. NEPA also issued a clear reminder of the steep penalties for violations of the Wild Life Protection Act: anyone convicted of hunting, trapping, or illegally possessing protected wild species including wild ducks can face fines as high as JMD $3 million.
To strengthen enforcement of these protections, NEPA is calling on the Jamaican public to become active partners in conservation. The agency is urging anyone with information about unreported illegal hunting activity to come forward and share details through multiple accessible channels. Tipsters can contact NEPA directly at 876-754-7540, reach the agency toll-free at 888-991-5005, or report incidents to local law enforcement via the national 119 emergency line or the nearest police station.