Trappers on tenterhooks for dates of open season

The government is shortly expected to announce the dates of the hunting and trapping season.

Several trappers have been complaining about the delay in announcing the dates of the open season, arguing this is the time to clean their trapping sites and do other necessary work before the first rains.

Most trappers would want to remove wild grass from the sites before the advent of rain so that the white rocket (gargir) that grows after the first rains would be left intact since this helps entice the birds.

Sources said the hunting and finch trapping seasons would be the same as they were last year: Hunting of birds from land will be allowed between September 1 and January 31, hunting from sea craft between October 1 and January 31 while trapping for finches will be allowed between October 1 and January 31.

The trapping of turtle dove and quail will also be allowed between September 1 and January 31 while it will also be possible to trap song thrush and golden plover between October 20 and January 10. It is not yet clear whether the lapwing will also be included in the list of species that can be trapped, but this is unlikely, the sources added.

Last year, the trapping of these last species had not been allowed because of a technical problem within the Ornis Committee. But sources said that this year it was decided to allow it as the trapping of these species, which could also be hunted, had been permitted in the first two years after Malta joined the EU and reports submitted to Brussels about the matter did not elicit any negative reactions.

It is felt that since the number of birds trapped from these particular species is rather small compared to the number of birds that are shot, there is no reason why their trapping should be stopped.

Environment Minister George Pullicino has made it very clear that if there are going to be reports of rampant abuse by hunters, he will curtail the hunting season again.

Last spring, the hunting season was closed abruptly on May 10 after hunters shot at migrating honey buzzards. The trapping season for turtle doves, however, remained open.

Hunting, particularly in spring, is a hot issue, with the European Commission having warned the government not to open the spring season again while the government is ready to fight the case to the European Court.

The Malta Labour Party says it cannot promise spring hunting because it would have to take into account the decision of the European Court of Justice and abide by it.

Hunters think that the government can and should continue to apply a derogation to allow them to shoot in spring, even though the European Commission has repeatedly warned that this is not possible.