[WATCH] Derogation being used as loophole for finch trapping - BirdLife

BirdLife Malta has found 24 illegal trapping sites in Gozo which are being used for finch trapping.

The conservation organisation said it has received a high number of reports of illegal trapping on the sister islands. Following the reports, BirdLife sent two teams to Gozo and recorded illegal trapping in every location visited.

"The majority of sites found were targeting protected finch species, while two trapping sites were found active on protected areas of Xaħgri inside EU Natura 2000 sites," BirdLife said in a statement.

Malta is currently applying a derogation of EU law to allow the trapping of song thrush and golden plover, a decision contested by the European Commission and which may lead to Malta being taken to the European Court of Justice .

 "It is evident that the autumn trapping derogation is not being strictly supervised and it's being used as cover for the continuation of illegal finch trapping," BLM conservation manager Nicholas Barbara, said.

During BirdLife's surveillance on Gozo last Saturday no police were observed patrolling and monitoring the derogation.

According to the NGO, the ALE were not operating on Gozo and the Gozo district police could only respond to BirdLife reports with one vehicle. Gozo police successfully apprehended illegal trappers at two sites following reports called in by BirdLife teams.

BirdLife Malta is carrying out island-wide surveys in Malta and Gozo to assess the current autumn trapping derogation's adherence to the conditions of the EU Birds Directive.

Members of the public are encouraged to report any illegal trapping activity to the ALE and inform BirdLife. For instructions on how to file a report and what is illegal visit www.birdlifemalta.org