The government has rejected a recommendation by the Ornis Committee to allow trapping for two species of birds beyond the end of the year.

The Committee had controversially recommended - after seeking advice from the Attorney General - that trapping of golden plover and song thrush be allowed from October 20 to January 10, 2009.

European Commission officials had told The Times that the recommendation to extend trapping for certain species beyond the end of the year could not be accepted if Malta wanted to avoid legal proceedings. According to the officials, the Accession Treaty made it clear that trapping had to stop at the end of 2008.

The government yesterday announced the hunting and trapping open seasons for next autumn after considering the Ornis recommendations.

Golden plovers and song thrushes can be trapped from October 20 to December 31.

Song birds can be taken from October 1 to December 31 and quail and turtle dove from September 1 to October 30.

Hunting on land will be allowed from September 1 to January 31, 2009, two hours before sunrise and two hours after sunset from Monday to Saturday and from two hours before sunrise to 1 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays.

The government said that, in order to protect game, for two weeks (from September 15 to September 30) during these five months (September to January), hunting on land will be prohibited from 3 p.m. to two hours before sunrise.

Hunting at sea can be practised between October 1 and January 31, 2009.