Finch trapping will continue after all, under a special “research” derogation, the government announced on Wednesday.
The news was announced by the FKNK on Tuesday, while the government later confirmed that trapping for song thrushes (malvizz) and European Golden Plover (pluviera) will continue.
The government said in a statement that trapping for song thrushes will open from 20 October (today) and continue until 31 December 2021. The season for European Golden Plover will open on 1 November 2021 and continue until 10 January 2022.
The Gozo Ministry, which is led by ex-hunter Clint Camilleri and which is responsible for hunting, said that the national quota is 5,000 song thrushes and 700 golden plovers.
Trappers are obliged to report anything they catch by phoning 8000 2020 from a mobile registered in their name, or by using the mobile app ‘Game Reporting MT’. An SMS will be sent back to confirm.
Likewise, is a trapper goes out and does not catch anything, they have to report as such through the same Freephone or app.
If a song thrush or plover which is ringed with a scientific ring is caught, then the trappers are obliged to write all the details in the ringing formula, which is included with the special license and which has to be filled in the name of the licensed person.
The Federation for Hunting and Conservation - Malta (FKNK) were the first to actually report the news that finch trapping would continue, in a statement late on Tuesday night.
They thanked the government for allowing the continuation of the “important research” especially after “the enormous negative pressure exerted by the European Commission (EC) for the discontinuation of this research.”
“It is shocking how the EC, which is made up of people who are not elected by the European people, continues to obstruct and create obstacles even in the field of research. The research, which will not only have no negative effect on any species, but will continue to provide more valuable information on the passage of finches over the Maltese islands,” the FKNK said.
They said that the EC’s attitude is also further undermining its own prejudices about the regional hunting and trapping traditions of Member States, especially of those member countries and regions within the Mediterranean basin, including Malta.
“The European Union (EU) must accept what it preaches, namely, that customs, habits, practices, lifestyles and ways-of-life, social traditions and cultures, including hunting and trapping passions, of the member countries are diverse, and it is crucial that they so remain such that the Diversity of Cultures of Member States, as is called upon by the United Nations, remains safeguarded. This is why the Union must embrace what it stands for - Unity, and not let the Commission try to impose Uniformity,” the FKNK said.
In a short reaction on social media meanwhile, BirdLife Malta – who had initially revealed that legislation allowing for a finch trapping derogation to be opened had been silently repealed – initially said that the news was “surprising”, but later said that a new legal notice allowing for the trapping had been enacted overnight.
“It remains unclear why the Framework Law was repealed last week, simply to be re-enacted again a few days later, and what has led to this change of heart. What is sure is that this goes once again against the EU Birds Directive and it is being checked since the way it happened might also be in breach of local legislation,” BirdLife Malta said.
Malta is currently facing infringement procedures from the European Commission over its insistence to allow finch trapping to take place.