Nearly 300 active bird trapping sites have been spotted in protected coastline habitats, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter said yesterday.

The aerial surveys conducted by CABS show a minimum of 290 active bird trapping installations in Natura 2000 zones.

The photos, which were published on their website and Facebook page, were “proof of the high density of active clap nets” and the destruction of protected vegetation inside protected sites near Żurrieq and Ħal Far.

There were more trapping sites in protected landscapes, such as garigue, and others with too many nets or nets larger than is allowed, CABS said.

The committee accused the government of taking the public and European Commission for a ride by promising “limited conditions” while allowing uncontrollable mass-trapping of birds inside core areas of nature protection.

Despite a clear legal ban, several trapping sites were recently built within and outside protected Natura 2000 zones.

“We have provided the Wild Bird Regulation Unit with the location of 44 active trapping sites, which all seem to have been built in the last two years, making them illegal.

“It’s now up to the government to ensure that the trappers will be punished and that any licences will be revoked,” CABS Wildlife Crime Officer Fiona Burrows said.

The new legal notice allows the live-capture of birds from a trapping site only if the station is visible on 2012 aerial photos or was registered with the Police Commissioner by December 2012.

The committee claimed a trapper was given a permit for a new site at Armier.

“When comparing pictures from our aerial survey with satellite images, we learned this site must be illegal, as it did not exist before 2013.

“When the police checked the site, the trapper presented them with a brand new license,” Ms Burrows said.

CABS has asked the unit to revoke the licence with immediate effect.

In Gozo, the government confirmed that a newly built trapping site at the coast close to Dwejra Bird Sanctuary was illegal and would be dismantled soon.

CABS members also documented the widespread use of illegal bird callers for trapping.

“We have recorded a total of 28 incidents on video and the machines we found were imitating finches, song thrush, golden plover, dotterel and skylark,” Ms Burrows said.

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