Updated | CABS: Protected sites turned into 'a bird's hell' • Police don't have trapping database

Adds reaction by Wild Birds Regulation Unit

Massive trapping has turned protected areas on Malta and Gozo into a bird´s hell, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) said today.

Aerial pictures released by the organisation show the dramatic impact that bird trapping is having on Gozo’s Ras il-Wardija and the coastline in the Gharb area, both protected Natura 2000 sites.

“Since 2014 – when the Maltese government U-turned and re-opened the live-capturing of finches – bird trappers have destroyed large parts of these unique natural and historical reserves to make way for their pursuits”, CABS press Ooficer Axel Hirschfeld said.

According to CABS, vegetation was burned down and land levelled to create dozens of massive trapping sites for Golden Plovers and songbirds in these and other Natura 2000 sites on the archipelago.

The list continues with dumping of building material, use of toxic chemicals to clear the ground for the nets, building of massive illegal concrete hides, artificial ponds and continuous presence and traffic of cars during the trapping season.

CABS also said that it has informed the authorities about 70 finch trapping sites which have been built on protected garrigue and other non-agricultural land.

The reports also include a trapping site which was built in the middle of Ricasoli Fort near Grand Harbour. According to the law it is forbidden to install bird trapping sites within protected areas and on land other than cultivated agricultural fields.

“The WBRU has been asked to verify if these sites have been built in accordance with the law. We expect that all illegal sites will be dismantled immediately”, CABS wildlife officer Fiona Burrows said.

The NGO criticised the government for having wasted Maltese taxpayers money for a “one-sided promotional video” about bird trapping and for failing to provide the police with the necessary data and equipment to do their job.

The NGO said that the film, which was uploaded on the WBRU´s YouTube Channel last month, is painting a false picture of the situation and has nothing to do with the reality in the field.

“In stark contrast to the impression given in the film there are still huge enforcement problems with illegal trapping outside the open season, smuggling of many thousand contraband finches each year and an undermanned and underequipped ALE unit,” Burrows said.

She added that one of the key messages of the film was that trappers who target protected species will have to pay a minimum fine of 5000 Euros.

“In fact most of the poachers who have recently been reported by CABS were given much lower fines,” she said.

CABS also said that despite it is peak finch migration time, the WBRU has to date failed to provide the police with an updated list of trappers and sites which have been given a licence in 2016.

“Without these data the police are totally unable to do their job. Enforcement of the season is simply not possible,” Axel Hirschfeld added.

“The data were supposed to be delivered to the police on tablets with a special software, which is also highlighted in the film produced by the WBRU.”

WBRU reacts to CABS' claims

In a statement, the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU) within the parliamentary secretariat for agriculture, fisheries and animal rights, refuted CABS’ claim that the unit had failed to provide the police with an updated list of trappers and sites which had been given a license in 2016.

The unit insisted that the police were given full access to all licensing data, including details of individual licensees, real-time data on catches reported by trappers and other relevant information.

Moreover, the statement said, WBRU provided the police with a number of rugged tablet computers containing specialised enforcement software that enables enforcement officers to instantly verify registration records pertaining to any trapping site.

The unit also claimed that 70 enforcement officers were deployed daily on patrols, conducting hundreds of inspections and spot checks on individual trapping sites and licensees in Malta and in Gozo to verify compliance with applicable regulations in the field.

The WBRU also refuted claims that the authorities had failed to react to CABS’ report of alleged illegal trapping sites.

“Contrary to this insinuation, the WBRU confirms that on Monday 31 October, it received from CABS a map indicating multiple locations of various trapping sites,” it said.

“After immediately acknowledging and thanking CABS for their cooperation on enforcement, the unit performed necessary checks and responded to CABS on 2 November.”

The WBRU said that it provided CABS with the precise indication of 28 sites that were not registered and where any trapping is illegal; the information was also passed on to the police and to the Environment and Resources Authority, and necessary surveillance and inspections were being conducted on these sites to identify and prosecute anyone breaking the law.

As to the video clip it produced in collaboration with the ALE in 2015, the unit said this was purely fact-based and aimed at providing visual illustration of the strict supervision and enforcement regime enacted by the authorities during live-capturing derogations.

The WBRU accused CABS of misleading readers with regards to penalties meted out to persons convicted of trapping-related offences.

“The penalties referred to in the video clip apply to illegal capture of protected birds listed in Schedules I and IX of the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations,” the unit said.

“These penalties include an automatic €5,000 fine on first conviction, permanent revocation of license, and imprisonment for one year while other trapping-related offences may carry lesser penalties.”