Opening trapping season puts Malta at risk of more court cases - BirdLife

Opening the trapping season is a mistake, BirdLife has said, and despite the government saying it had reached an agreement with the European Commission to do so, it was unclear with whom negotiations were conducted.

It was reported on Monday that an agreement had been reached with the Commission, whereby Malta will be allowed to open a trapping season for golden plover and song thrush.

But, in view of recent infringement proceedings connected to trapping against Malta, the season which starts tomorrow could lead to the country facing further action, BirdLife said.

With the season set to open Saturday, the NGO sao it was “nothing short of a farce” to think that over 1,500 trappers would only catch the allowed quota of 5,700 birds in two months and a half.

It pointed out that trapping will only be permitted for golden plover and song thrush because of a landmark decision by the European Court of Justice in June, which had found Malta guilty of infringing the European Birds Directive when it allowed trapping for seven species of finch to reopen in 2014.

The trapping season will also be open for song thrush

“The ECJ finch trapping verdict also sent an indirect message to the government to halt the trapping season for golden plover and song thrush, since the methods applied are the same as those applied to capture finches,” BirdLife said.

“However in July, barely a month after the judgement, the Ornis Committee adopted a proposal put forward by the hunting lobby and decided to recommend to government the opening of a trapping season for these two species.”

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“This is despite it being made clear that the ECJ ruling on finch trapping has direct implications on the trapping of any other species, and also despite the fact the golden plover and song thrush derogation already is the subject of 2011 Commission infringement proceedings.”

“In view of all this, the season which starts tomorrow and remains open until the end of the year, will put Malta at risk of another EU court case.”

Despite being aware of this risk, parliamentary secretary Clint Camilleri took the Ornis recommendation on board and opened the season regardless, BirdLife lamented.

“Asked with whom in Brussels this agreement was negotiated, the government is still yet to reply,” it noted, highlighting that it was a known fact that the Commission never reaches deals on derogations with countries, but only asks for justification after these are implemented.

It added that it hoped the Commission hadn’t been “taken for a ride” with promises by the government that it can control the quotas and ensure they are not surpassed.