The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), is reminding the public that it is illegal to sell or buy Jamaican parrots.

Jamaica has two endemic species of parrots: the yellow-billed and black-billed parrots, which are protected under the Wild Life Protection Act, as well as the Endangered Species (Protection, Conservation and Regulation of Trade) Act.

Under the former act, people who buy or sell Jamaican parrots, if found guilty, can face a maximum fine of $100,000 or 12 months in prison.

It is also illegal to export these parrots without a permit, as international trade is regulated under the Endangered Species (Protection, Conservation and Regulation of Trade) Act, 2000. People found guilty of trading without a permit can face a maximum fine of $2 million and/or two years in prison.

Jamaica's parrots are listed as threatened on the World Conservation Union red list of threatened species. That is, they are at risk of extinction if their population is not protected. The main threats to Jamaica's parrots are loss of habitat due to deforestation and poaching of the birds for sale as pets.

The public is being asked to contact NEPA at 754-7540 or 1-888-991-5005 to report any sale of Jamaican parrots.