The trapping season for hawfinch has been closed as the quota has been reached, the government said.

It said in a statement that according to Maltese law, once the quota for this species was reached, trapping for it had to stop.

The government said this showed that the real time reporting system adopted in Malta was working in an efficient manner and according to the parameters of the applied derogation.

Sources said that before the season started, hawfinches were sold on the black market for €200 each. Two weeks into the season, they were being sold at €100 for four.

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