Trappers will be allowed to capture seven finch species this autumn after the government decided to apply for an exemption from EU rules.
It will be the first time in five years trappers are allowed to capture finches after a concession agreed with the EU upon membership expired in 2008.
The Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretariat yesterday said the autumn trapping season will open on October 20 and close on December 31.
Apart from golden plover and song thrush – both species could be captured over the past two years – trappers would be able to capture linnets, goldfinches, greenfinches, siskins, hawfinches, chaffinches and serins.
However, the contentious decision comes with stringent reporting conditions, individual bag limits and site registration with the government’s hunting monitor.
The secretariat said each trapper could catch a maximum of six birds from golden plover and song thrush throughout the season. Trapping for these species comes with a special licence of €55.
Bag limits for seven finch species will be 10 altogether
Individual bag limits will be 10 for the seven finches put together and trappers have to obtain a separate special licence costing €55.
Only trappers who possess a general live-capturing licence and special licences pertaining to each derogation shall be allowed to practise live capturing on sites registered with the Wild Birds Regulation Unit.
The secretariat said trapping sites have to be registered with the unit by the end of the month. No new ones will be permitted.
Each trapper cannot have more than two stations and not more than two pairs of clap nets per station. Trapping will not be allowed on Natura 2000 sites.
The rules also establish the maximum size for clap nets to be used for different species. Clap nets used to capture golden plover and song thrush cannot be larger than 60 square metres while those used to capture finches must be within 38 square metres.
Trappers will have to report birds caught by SMS and on the carnet de chasse.
Every captured bird has to be ringed. The regulations also define what live decoys may be used.