Trapping of song thrush and golden plover will be allowed during the autumn hunting season under strict conditions.

In a statement the Government justified its decision saying that it was acting on the recommendation of the Malta Ornis Committee.

The live-capturing of song thrush will be allowed between October 20 and December 31, while the trapping season for golden plover will open on October 20 and last until January 14.

The bag limits will be of 5,000 for song thrush and 1,150 for golden plover. An individual’s season bag limit will be six birds per licensee. As was the case last year, licensees have to report each bird caught by sending an SMS on a dedicated number.

In a statement Birdlife Malta hit out at the Government, pointing out that the opening of trapping seasons was banned by the Birds Directive of the European Union.

It added that further capture of these species was unjustified in that shooting song thrush and golden plover was allowed in unlimited numbers during the current autumn season.

Birdlife said that this decision would have an impact on the populations of these species, arguing that trapping was a much more effective method of catching wild birds than traditional hunting methods. The NGO added that this was the reason it did not take part in the Ornis Committee meeting that voted on the 2013 trapping season.

Birdlife also expressed concern that the trapping season would lead to illegal finch trapping which has been banned since 2009. The system was flawed and had been widely abused, it claimed.

Only people in possession of a valid Carnet de Chasse for 2013–2014 are eligible to apply for such the special trapping licence.

Each licensee is allowed up to two trapping sites and must provide the exact location which has to be registered with the Commissioner of Police.

Licensed trappers will only be allowed to have a total of 10 birds to be used as live decoys.

In order for birds to be considered live decoys, they must have a single-use ring approved by the director of the Wild Birds Regulation Unit. Applicants must also indicate the number of live decoys from the two species they intend to use.

Applications for the special licence can be sent to the Wild Birds Regulation Unit from next Monday until Saturday 28 September, against a fee of €10.

Meanwhile, the Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) has urged its members to report illegal hunting to the police as the season gets underway.

The federation reminded its members that up to October 7, hunting is not permitted after 7pm or after 1pm on Sundays and public holidays.