The government will be opening the trapping season in October despite the threat of Malta being taken to the European Court of Justice again, the Times of Malta can confirm.

The Times of Malta reported on Tuesday that Malta would likely have to face the EU court again if it decided to go ahead with the autumn trapping season.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, Clint Camilleri, said he saw no reason for the season not to open.

“I don’t see why we need to keep the season closed when, like other countries, we have the right to apply our derogations, something that has long been the case. We are willing to make any tweaking deemed necessary to better respect the birds directive.

“However, I am very confident that we have a very strong case if the European Commission decides to take Malta to court,” Mr Camilleri insisted.

Malta has previously invoked two derogations (or legal exemptions) allowing it to authorise trapping for finches and, separately, for song thrushes and golden plovers, notwithstanding the provisions of the EU Birds Directive.

I don’t see why we need to keep the season closed

Both have been subject to EU infringement proceedings, but priority has been given to finch trapping, declared illegal by the Strasbourg-based court in a judgment last month.

Mr Camilleri insists, however, the two issues should be analysed separately, since the judgment focused specifically on finch trapping.

“The autumn trapping season is for two unprotected birds – the song thrush and golden plover. These are species that can be hunted, and therefore the case is different,” he said, adding the advice from the Ornis committee, that trappers should be allowed to trap the song thrush and golden plover, would be closely evaluated.

Read: Opening bird trapping season likely to see Malta back in European Court of Justice

The Ornis committee, an advisory body, recommended that the government apply for a derogation under the Birds Directive.

It also suggested that the authorities change regulations banning the mesh size of trapping nets smaller than 45mm, to only allow trappers to operate one site instead of two and to force trappers to keep unused trapping sites covered.

Conservationists urged the government earlier this week not to open the trapping season, insisting Malta should respect the sentiment of the recent European court ruling.

BirdLife said that if the government cleared the next trapping season, it would be taking trappers for a ride, risking another EU court case. It pointed out it was the only organisation on the Ornis committee to vote against the application of the derogation to allow the trapping of song thrushes and golden plovers.

 

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