The hunting of birds on land shall be permitted between September 1 and January 31, between two hours before sunrise and two hours after sunset on any day between Monday and Saturday, and between two hours before sunrise and 1pm on Sundays and public holidays, the government said.
However the hunting of birds on land between September 15 and October 7 (inclusive of both dates) will not be permitted between 7 pm and two hours before sunrise of the following day.
Hunting at sea will be permitted between October 1 and January 31 during the same times as those applicable to hunting on land. Between October 1 and 7 hunting at sea will not be permitted from Monday to Saturday between 7 pm and two hours before sunrise of the following day.
The dates and times, including the 7pm “curfew” exactly the same as those adopted last year, the government said.
Referring to last year’s decision to revise the parameters of the “curfew”, which prior to 2013 used to apply between September 15-30 from 3pm onwards, Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes said that 2013 autumn enforcement statistics showed that enforcement measures had worked, and there was a decline in the number of incidents involving illegal targeting of raptors between September 15 and October 7, 2013, in comparison with the same period in previous years.
Moreover, no such incidents were registered after 7 pm, which showed that the revised “curfew” has had an effect.
“Moreover, during last spring season, the authorities also registered a decline in the number of offences involving illegal targeting of protected birds. This is mainly a result of a major legal reform implemented in October 2013 and in March 2014, whereby penalties for all bird-related offences have been greatly increased, as well as a result of increased enforcement presence in the field and greater awareness of the law. The government is confident that it is on the right policy track with regards to eradication of abuse of hunting regulations”, Mr Galdes added.
Anyone caught shooting or trapping protected species will automatically incur a penalty fine of €5,000 and / or imprisonment for one year, as well as permanent revocation or ban on obtaining a hunting or trapping licence.
In case of second or subsequent offence, the applicable penalty will go up to €10,000, confiscation, and / or imprisonment for two years. Penalties for all other irregularities, including for non-declaration of bagged birds in Carnet de Chasse have also been increased.