Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/281887
Jurgen Balzan BirdLife Malta, the hunters' fed- eration and government engaged in a war of words, with the NGO reporting widespread illegal trap- ping a few hours following the an- nouncement of next month's spring hunting season. On their part, both the hunt- ers' federation and government dispelled criticism that the law was amended at the behest of the hunting lobby to allow hunting on Sundays and public holidays for the first time in seven years. Yesterday, CABS (Commit- tee Against Bird Slaughter) and BirdLife Malta said that poor en- forcement was allowing bird trap- pers to pursue their illegal hobby with impunity. despite the legal ban on trap- ping, the Maltese countryside was currently cluttered with hundreds of illegal clap net installations, the two organisations said, criticising the lack of police presence in the field and the failure of authorities to properly enforce the law to curb the problem. in the last eight days, a single CABS and BirdLife Malta surveil- lance team observed and filmed at least 15 trappers in the act, but re- ports to the police resulted in only two apprehensions. Strongholds of illegal trapping were located throughout Gozo, Migra L-ferha, fomm ir-rih, din- gli, Ta' Baldu, Hal far and the deli- mara peninsula. "The situation is as bad as five years ago before finch trapping was outlawed as part of Malta's agree- ment to abide by the Birds' direc- tive. Trapping and caged finches can be observed nearly everywhere in the countryside. The practice appears to be unhindered by the law, with trappers not fearing prosecution by police," BirdLife conservation manager Nicholas Barbara said. Administrative Law enforce- ment officers alerted by the con- servationists apprehended just two trappers, while more than 13 either managed to escape or had already left the area by the time police ar- rived, Barbara said. On only one occasion did the po- lice arrive in less than 55 minutes in response to reported trapping activity, with ALe response time averaging more than an hour. from trapping sites reported to the police, officers confiscated nets from at least 10 trapping sites and removed more than 20 live caged birds, including Serins, Chaffinch- es, Linnets and Greenfinches. CABS and BirdLife Malta praised the officers involved in the confis- cations but said that the seizure of birds and equipment used in illegal trapping was not being universally enforced. "Our teams have witnessed at least five instances in which the police either did not remove illegal nets or let the trappers go with un- ringed protected birds and illegally used equipment even when caught red-handed," CABS Operations Officer Axel Hirschfeld said. "We have asked the Commission- er of Police to explain why the po- lice are failing to enforce the law to its full extent, but as yet no answer has been forthcoming." The two NGOs also criticised the absence of ALe patrols at illegal trapping hotspots. "it is evident that the ALe are overwhelmed with our reports of illegal trapping from just one team, thus being unable to respond quickly or to conduct their own, proactive anti-poaching operations. The result is total free pass for illegal trapping to contin- ue unchecked in large parts of the countryside." The NGOs said that a good ex- ample of the "audacious level of criminal activity" of trappers this month was observed at fomm ir- rih, where CABS and BirdLife vol- unteers reported several large clap nets to the ALe on 14 March. The police later confirmed that they have found and dismantled the installations in the days fol- lowing the report. However, when the team revisited the area on the following day, illegal trapping sites were still active. "How can the government claim that they are adequately enforcing wildlife protection laws when this is the situation?" Birdlife conser- vation and policy officer Christian debono said. "All this again raises serious doubts about the authori- ties' ability to adequately police the upcoming spring hunting season." CABS and Birdlife said they will continue to monitor illegal trap- ping sites until the finch migration season is over. Both NGOs called on the govern- ment to do everything possible to improve enforcement and to en- sure that protected songbirds are allowed to pass through Malta and Gozo on their spring migration without falling victim to poach- ing. Hunters' chief justifies hunting extensions in reaction to a previous BirdLife's statement on the spring hunting, the hunters' federation boss Lino farrugia said that the proposal to allow hunting on Sundays and pub- lic holidays was based on eU mem- ber states' discretion on hunting periods, days and times. in a statement issued yesterday afternoon, farrugia claimed that hunting is now permitted from two hours before sunrise up to 1pm, "as is the norm during other hunting open seasons". farrugia noted that following the 2009 european Court of Justice (eCJ) verdict, which limited spring hunting in Malta to turtle dove and quail, "hunting on Sundays and Public Holidays has been banned in spring since 2010". Moreover, he claimed that due to the uniqueness of the Maltese islands, game is only available to the Maltese hunters and trappers while on migration and that "birds do not distinguish between work- ing days or public holidays". He also described the previous ban as "anti-social and unscientif- ic," claiming that it was a discrimi- natory measure. furthermore, farrugia lamented that hunters will have 16 hours less to hunt when compared to last year's derogation. 'Unprecedented' enforcement The decision to allow spring hunting was guided by national law, which government said was "clear and precise". Government said "the law also stipulates minimum enforcement requirements, such as that for every 1,000 licensed hunters there should be at least seven enforcement offic- ers monitoring the hunting season. All these parameters are being ad- hered to in strictest manner possi- ble. it should be noted that Malta deploys a level of field enforcement that is unprecedented anywhere in europe." in reaction to BirdLife's strong- worded statement on friday, gov- ernment said this gave "a mislead- ing impression that the hunting season is being lengthened, in comparison with previous year's season". News maltatoday, Sunday, 23 March 2014 'Widespread illegal trapping' taking place across Malta and gozo While caBS and BirdLife report widespread illegal trapping, government says spring hunting enforcement will be 'unprecedented' NGOs said that a good example of the "audacious level of criminal activity" of trappers this month was observed at Fomm ir-Rih, where CABS and BirdLife volunteers reported several large clap nets to the ALE on 14 March Wheatear found caught up in a net used for illegal songbird trapping