Updated: Government received Ornis recommendation on June 15

The government has denied claimed by BirdLife made earlier today that the Ornis Committee had not made any recommendations on trapping.

In a statement, the government said that on June 15 it received a recommendation from Ornis Malta for the application of:

- a derogation allowing the trapping of turtle dove and quail, between  September 1 and October 31; and

- a derogation allowing the trapping of song thrush and golden plover, between October 20 and January 10. 

It said that after it received this recommendation it asked Ornis to submit the information necessary for decisions on the derogations to be taken by the minister responsible.

Recently, the chairman submitted the information required to allow the government to approve the application of a derogation for the trapping of song thrush between November 1 and January 10.

BirdLife said earlier today that the Ornis Committee has not presented government with any new recommendations on trapping since it became aware that the European Commission last June initiated infringement proceedings against Malta.

It said the surprise announcement came just a few hours before opening the season and in a departure from normal convention the legal notice has not yet been published.

"The decision to open this season was not based on an Ornis Committee recommendation although this is required under national law and was also taken without a specific scientific analysis required by policy guidance on hunting and trapping issued by office of the Prime Minister.

"This policy recognises that trapping is not permitted under the Birds Directive and can only take place under derogation."

The policy requires that prior to government declaring a trapping season the Ornis Committee must also present an analysis showing how such a season can be justified as a derogation under the Birds Directive.

The policy was circulated to the Ornis Committee last August where the government communicated the requirement for an scientific assessment and analysis to asses the possibility for a derogation. To date no scientific study has been presented to the Ornis Committee.

BirdLife noted that the European Commission last June initiated infringement proceedings against Malta for permitting trapping.

It said that in a communication to BirdLife Malta, Joseph Hennon, spokesman to Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik, clarified that the Commission did not feel that Malta's derogation permitting the trapping of turtle dove, quail, golden plover and song thrush met the conditions required for a derogation to the Birds Directive.

This year's song thrush trapping season has opened under similar conditions as previous years, just five months after these proceedings. This could result in further legal action being taken against Malta by the Commission risking a court case which can incur financial penalties, BirdLife said.