On the first day of the 2018 game bird hunting season, at least six hunters were arrested and charged with breaches of the Wild Life Protection Act.

The six were arrested Saturday after they were seen hunting in a protected bird sanctuary area of Elim in St Elizabeth.

According to reports, members of the National Environment

and Planning Agency (NEPA) enforcement team, along with police from St Elizabeth, were carrying out patrols when the six were seen in the protected area.

The six were taken to the Santa Cruz Police Station where they were processed and offered station bail.

The birds they had in their possession were also seized by the NEPA enforcement officers.

Under the Wild Life Protection Act, if the men are found to be in breach of the act in court, they could be fined a maximum of $100,000 and/or sentenced to a year in prison.

The season runs until September 23.

Melville Harris