[WATCH] ‘Widespread illegal trapping’ taking place across Malta and Gozo

Adds hunters' federation and government statements

Illegal trapping surveillance summary, 12th-19th March 2014 on the BirdLife Malta Youtube channel

Poor enforcement was allowing bird trappers to pursue their illegal hobby with impunity, CABS (Committee Against Bird Slaughter) and BirdLife Malta said today in a statement.

Despite the legal ban on trapping, the Maltese countryside was currently cluttered with hundreds of illegal clap net installations, the two organisations said, criticising the lack of police presence in the field and the failure of authorities to properly enforce the law to curb the problem.

In the last eight days a single CABS and BirdLife Malta surveillance team observed and filmed at least 15 trappers in the act, but reports to the police resulted in only two apprehensions.

Strongholds of illegal trapping were located throughout Gozo, Migra L-Ferha, Fomm ir-Rih, Dingli, Ta’ Baldu, Hal Far and the Delimara peninsula.

“The situation is as bad as five years ago before finch trapping was outlawed as part of Malta's agreement to abide by the Birds’ Directive. Trapping and caged finches can be observed nearly everywhere in the countryside. The practice appears to be unhindered by the law, with trappers not fearing prosecution by police,” BirdLife conservation manager Nicholas Barbara said.

Administrative Law Enforcement officers alerted by the conservationists apprehended just two trappers, while more than 13 either managed to escape or had already left the area by the time police arrived, Barbara said.

On only one occasion did the police arrive in less than 55 minutes in response to reported trapping activity, with ALE response time averaging more than an hour.

From trapping sites reported to the police, officers confiscated nets from at least 10 trapping sites and removed more than 20 live caged birds, including Serins, Chaffinches, Linnets and Greenfinches.

CABS and BirdLife Malta praised the officers involved in the confiscations but said that the seizure of birds and equipment used in illegal trapping was not being universally enforced.

“Our teams have witnessed at least five instances in which the police either did not remove illegal nets or let the trappers go with un-ringed protected birds and illegally used equipment even when caught red-handed,” CABS Operations Officer Axel Hirschfeld said.

“We have asked the Commissioner of Police to explain why the police are failing to enforce the law to its full extent, but as yet no answer has been forthcoming.”

The two NGOs also criticised the absence of ALE patrols at illegal trapping hotspots. “It is evident that the ALE are overwhelmed with our reports of illegal trapping from just one team, thus being unable to respond quickly or to conduct their own, proactive anti-poaching operations. The result is total free pass for illegal trapping to continue unchecked in large parts of the countryside.”

The NGOs said that a good example of the “audacious level of criminal activity” of trappers this month was observed at Fomm ir-Rih, where CABS and BirdLife volunteers reported several large clap nets to the ALE on the 14th March.

The police later confirmed that they have found and dismantled the installations in the days following the report. However, when the team revisited the area on the following day, illegal trapping sites were still active.

“How can the government claim that they are adequately enforcing wildlife protection laws when this is the situation?” Birdlife conservation and policy officer Christian Debono said. “All this again raises serious doubts about the authorities’ ability to adequately police the upcoming spring hunting season.”   

CABS and Birdlife said they will continue to monitor illegal trapping sites until the finch migration season is over.

Both NGOs called on the government to do everything possible to improve enforcement and to ensure that protected songbirds are allowed to pass through Malta and Gozo on their spring migration without falling victim to poaching.

Hunters’ chief justifies hunting extensions

In reaction to BirdLife’s statement, the hunters’ federation boss Lino Farrugia said that the proposal to allow hunting on Sundays and public holidays was based on EU member states’ discretion on hunting periods, days and times.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Farrugia claimed that    hunting is now permitted from two hours before sunrise up to 1pm “as is the norm during other hunting open seasons.”

He noted that following the 2009 European Court of Justice (ECJ) verdict, which limited spring hunting in Malta to turtle dove and quail, “hunting on Sundays and Public Holidays has been banned in spring since 2010.”

 The FKNK chief said the hunters’ federation based its proposal on the fact that neither the Birds Directive nor the European Commission, “imposes hunting open season restrictions but it is up to the Member State to decide on the opening periods, days and timings.”

Farrugia added that “Malta applies less than a handful of derogations when the other EU Member States apply hundreds annually in similar fashions and circumstances.”

Moreover, he claimed that due to the uniqueness of the Maltese islands, game is only available to the Maltese hunters and trappers whilst on migration and “birds do not distinguish between working days or public holidays.”

While arguing that recreational activities are usually undertaken on Sundays and holidays because of the available free time, Farrugia said that “most hunting is carried out on private owned land.”

He also described the previous ban as “anti-social and unscientifically based,” claiming that it was a discriminatory measure.
Furthermore, Farrugia lamented that hunters will have 16 hours less to hunt when compared to last year’s derogation.  

“Notwithstanding, the FKNK welcomes the fact that Government has favourably considered the gist of its proposals,” Farrugia said.

‘Unprecedented’ enforcement

The decision to allow spring hunting was guided by national law, which government said was “clear and precise.”

In a statement issued today, government said "the law also stipulates minimum enforcement requirements, such as that for every 1,000 licensed hunters there should be at least seven enforcement officers monitoring the hunting season. All these parameters are being adhered to in strictest manner possible. It should be noted that Malta deploys a level of field enforcement that is unprecedented anywhere in Europe,”

In reaction to BirdLife’s strong-worded statement issued earlier today, government said that the statement gives “a misleading impression that the hunting season is being lengthened, in comparison with previous year’s season.”