The future of bird trapping will be decided by the European Court of Justice today as hunters and conservationists both anxiously await the landmark judgment.
The court will decide whether Malta can continue applying a derogation allowing an autumn trapping season after a lengthy legal battle that started in 2015.
The trapping season, which runs between October and the end of December, is also subject to infringement proceedings by the European Commission.
Read: Bird trapping 'breaches EU law' - ECJ prosecution
Mark Sultana, BirdLife Malta’s chief executive, said yesterday that the outcome of today's verdict meant a lot for “our birds and our habitats”.
“I say this because with this judgment rests the fate of tens of thousands of wild birds that are trapped from the wild each season, with the majority of them dying within months if not weeks,” he said.
BirdLife has estimated that more than 110,000 finches may have died as a result of finch trapping in Malta since 2014.
With this judgment rests the fate of tens of thousands of wild birds
Meanwhile, hunters' federation head Joe Perici Calascione said hunters all over the country were waiting with bated breath to find out whether their beloved trapping season would be outlawed or not.
The life-long hunter said the trapping community wanted the opportunity to pass on its cultural heritage to the next generation.
And while the FKNK insists trapping is part of the island's cultural fabric, abuse during the contentious season irks many.
Mr Perici Calascione said: “There may have been illegalities in the past but we have worked very hard to turn that situation around.”
Finch trapping was phased out after the island joined the EU but was later reintroduced after Labour swept to power.
Read: Malta faces scepticism during ECJ bird trapping hearing - source
In July last year, the ECJ advocate general released an opinion saying that the season was not a reasonable application of a derogation.
Mr Perici Calascione begs to differ, while Mr Sultana says it is clear that the advocate general has a studied opinion on the matter.
Meanwhile, Mr Sultana said the Luxembourg court would not only be deciding the fate of wild birds but also large patches of land – significant chunks of which were public land and even protected Natura 2000 sites.
“In these death traps, not only are birds caught but also an array of animals, such as hedgehogs, due to the nets that are left for days or even sometimes for the whole duration of the season,” he said.
Mr Sultana said the land, which was often cleared of any vegetation, would once again be given back to nature and to the public if the practice was outlawed once and for all.
“This is why this verdict is important. And while indications may show that nature could come out as the winner, predicting the outcome at this stage would be premature,” he said.
Nor would Mr Perici Calascione predict the outcome, saying, “Tomorrow we’ll either cry or celebrate.”