Widespread illegal trapping of golden plovers at night made a mockery of the quota system introduced by the government, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) said yesterday.
CABS said it provided evidence that, despite a commitment to limit the number of birds caught during the trapping season, there was no real-time monitoring of illegalities at night.
“Surveys have proved that the majority of trapping sites registered for plovers are active during the night when the birds migrate and enforcement is zero,” said CABS spokesman Axel Hirschfeld.
Trapping is illegal two hours after sunset and two hours before sunrise. “Birds trapped during illegal periods are not reported by trappers, making it impossible for the government to say when the quota is reached,” he added.
There are only a few places where these devices cannot be heard night and day
Trappers are obliged to report every bird caught via SMS so the season can be terminated once the quota for golden plovers is reached.
CABS also criticised the widespread use of “hundreds of forbidden bird callers for the trapping of golden plovers. There are only a few places where these devices cannot be heard night and day,” Mr Hirschfeld said.
The organisation reported it had received numerous phone calls from the public who feel disturbed because the gadgets are audible even from inside houses in Buġibba, Rabat, Mellieħa, Siġġiewi, Birżebbuġa and Manikata.
“Despite the declaration that there should be at least two ALE (police) officers or marshals on duty to monitor the situation outside permitted hours, the police headquarters repeatedly informed us that there were no ALE officers on duty at night,” CABS said.
District police officers dismantled an illegal bird caller used for night trapping at the Majjistral Nature and History Park.
The district police also apprehended a trapper close to San Martin, limits of Mġarr, last Wednesday, CABS said.
“In the overwhelming majority of cases, trappers switched off their callers and ran away in the dark when they saw the police car arriving.
“If the government is unable to control the situation, the season must be terminated with immediate effect,” it added.
CABS published a video on the organisation’s You Tube channel and Facebook page with material supporting its claims.
This material will be sent to the European Commission.