Duty to derogate on finch-trapping

The Federation for Hunting and Conservation - Malta (FKNK) has taken note of the Prime Minister's answer to a parliamentary question by Anthony Agius Decelis (PL) regarding the breeding of finches at the government experimental farm at Għammieri (May 13).

The Prime Minister was reported as saying that the breeding project has successfully bred six of the seven types attempted, and was also serving to enhance people's interest in the breeding of birds. Judging from this declaration, the project has been a success. Costing €41,500, it is a result of the agreement reached between Malta and the EU prior to accession.

Going by its success, the Maltese government is now in a position to take the project a step further. This is the granting of new, and renewal of, finch-trapping licences required to ensure the genetic diversity of all the finches in local aviaries. At the end of December 2008 there were 4,616 licensed bird trappers, most of who are taking care of a number of finches captured from the wild. To ensure that these finches will not die out without leaving any offspring, the capturing of finches from the wild in limited quantities is now necessary.

The capturing of wild birds for the promotion of genetic bio-diversity and educational purposes is practised in Austria, France, Italy and Spain by means of the application of derogations. Similarly, according to the EU Environment Commission, Malta may apply a derogation to permit finch-trapping in limited quantities and under supervised conditions. This was confirmed recently by Nicoletta Flessati, press officer, European Commission, Representation in Malta, Ta' Xbiex.

On March 7, the European Commission Representation in Malta clarified the position concerning bird trapping in Malta. The EU representative stated that following the expiry of the period under the Treaty, Malta can, along with all other member states, apply a derogation to permit finch-trapping to continue, adding that trapping of birds, other than those listed on Annex II of the Directive, therefore huntable and/or trappable, is permitted only in exceptional circumstances, where it complies with the strict conditions set out in the "Birds" Directive. These conditions concern the capturing of birds in small numbers, under strictly supervised conditions, and on a selective basis, as set out under article 9(1) (c) of the "Birds" Directive.

Now that the accession treaty concerning finch-trapping expired on December 31, 2008, there is nothing to stop the Maltese government from applying a derogation as outlined above. Indeed the Maltese government is duty-bound to apply a derogation, if it is serious about its declared public commitment for finch-trapping to continue. At stake is the honour of President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, who occupied the post of Prime Minister prior to Malta's EU accession to the EU. At stake is the honour of Simon Busuttil, at the time head of the Malta-EU Information Centre (MIC), and now a candidate for the June 2009 European Parliament elections. At stake is the honour of Joe Borg, at the time Foreign Affairs Minister, the present EU Commissioner for Fisheries. All three had guaranteed the continuation of finch-trapping.

Dr Fenech Adami had even sent personalised letters to every licensed trapper, guaranteeing it in the clearest terms. Dr Busuttil issued leaflets and fact sheets through MIC to that effect and Dr Borg had made declarations on the same lines both in a letter to the FKNK and publicly during a TV transmission. What is also at stake is the well-being of 5,000 bird-trappers and their families who will be very badly affected if the autumn trapping season is not opened. If the Maltese government will not derogate for finch-trapping, as it has the obligation to do, then a grave injustice will be done to thousands of Maltese bird-trappers and their families.

The FKNK has just presented a report to the leaders of the main political parties based on the "compensatory measures" principle that also includes the way forward for the continuation of finch-trapping.

Therefore, with the EU parliamentary elections imminent, the FKNK expects clear and unequivocal declarations now, regarding the application of a derogation for the continuation of finch-trapping as from this autumn, as allowed by the EU "Birds" Directive. The FKNK will draw its conclusions and direct its members on the correct action to take in respect of the coming EU parliamentary elections on June 6.