The FKNK Hunters' Federation said this afternoon that the government's decision not to allow trapping as part of the autumn hunting season showed that it wanted to totally eliminate live bird capturing.

Meanwhile, BirdLife welcomed the decision, which it said, was taken in the light of EU rules which Malta is bound to observe.

In its statement, the FKNK said its view that the government wants to eliminate trapping was based on the fact that new trapping licences were not being issued  notwithstanding the end of the moratorium on new licences.

Furthermore, the government's  informal Hunting and Trapping Policy Guidelines published on August 12, 2011, said:

- "Coturnix coturnix (Quail) and Streptopelia turtur (Turtle Dove) will not be considered for any derogation, including derogations to allow autumn trapping, ...:

The FKNK insisted that trapping is not banned by the EU's  Birds Directive.

Yesterday, Government announced the open season for hunting from land and sea-craft for this year's autumn/winter, and did not in conjunction announce the trapping seasons as is normally done, notwithstanding having had the Ornis Committee's recommendation to open the trapping season for the turtle dove, quail, song thrush and golden plover as usual.

It said it had repeatedly advised the authorities that a derogation was not need to permit trapping because it is up to the Member State to decide upon the methods (shotguns, nets, etc.) which may be used to permit the taking of species from the wild in autumn.

Furthermore, the "Birds" Directive only prohibits the use of nets when these can result in capture on a large scale and non-selective, or when such use can cause the disappearance of the local population. Conditions that are inexistent in traditional local trapping practices;

When Malta did not apply a derogation to permit trapping for these four species, the Commission never objected, the FKNK pointed out.

"Therefore, the FKNK believes that this Malta Government's move, not Europe's, besides resulting in another Government summersault since this contradicts what the same Government had stated this very 6th July, in that it would defend the trapping practice of these four species, " the FKNK said.

BIRDLIFE WELCOMES DECISION

BirdLife in its statement said it welcomed the government's decision not to allow trapping during the autumn hunting season.

The government's decision, BirdLife said, came after the European Commission last June challenged Malta's autumn trapping season through a Letter of Formal Notice which started infringement proceedings against Malta.

The Commission took this action as trapping is not permitted under the EU Birds Directive and can only take place under a derogation. As exemptions to clauses in EU law, derogations can only be applied by member states in exceptional circumstances and subject to strict specific conditions.

"The government has acted responsibly by not opening a season until the necessary justification is at hand. This will however take time and it is therefore highly unlikely that any trapping season could be opened this year." stated Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta Conservation and Policy Officer and Ornis Committee member.

"This shows that there is currently not enough data to support Malta's application of a trapping derogation or justification of previous trapping derogations. It is going to be very difficult to prove that Malta's circumstances and conditions satisfy those of the Birds Directive," Mr Barbara said.

On joining the EU Malta agreed to phase out finch trapping to bring national legislation in line with the Birds Directive . This period ended in December 2008 and since then no finch trapping season has opened, however government has continued to permit the yearly trapping of Turtle Dove, Quail, Golden Plover and Song Thrush – a move now challenged by the European Commission.

GOVERNMENT REACTION

The government in a reaction denied the FKNK's claim that it wanted to eliminate trapping but said that a derogation had to be based on the proper information. It also pointed to the Letter of Formal Notice sent by the European Commission about trapping in the autumn. 

Ta’ min ifakkar li kuntrarju ghal dak li qed tghid l-FKNK, f’Gunju li ghadda l-Kummissjoni Ewropea baghtet avviz formali (Letter of Lormal Notice) lill-Gvern Malti dwar l-insib fil-harifa.

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