Endangered Species Listing Worries Green Group

December 18, 2006

Release from: ABC News Online (Australia)

Environs Kimberley says the addition of two of the northern region's animals to Western Australia's endangered species list is evidence not enough is being done to protect the species.

The northern quoll is under threat by cane toads and has almost been completely wiped out in the Northern Territory.

The green sawfish is also among the six species added to the list, due to being over fished as by-catch in the northern barramundi and prawn fisheries.

The president of Environs Kimberley, Maria Mann, says the additions are a double-edged sword.

"On the one hand it means that we are looking out for things like this, but on the other hand it means that we're not taking good care of our environment," she said.

"We're not protecting the species ... as we go - it means that we are polluting too much, it means that we are taking too much from the environment."