OPM says Ornis presented studies for trapping derogation

BirdLife Malta has revealed that the Ornis Committee, the body responsible for advising government on the opening of hunting seasons, did not present government with any new recommendations on trapping since it became aware that the European Commission last June initiated infringement proceedings against Malta.

In a statement Tuesday evening, the government said it received a recommendation from Ornis on 15 June 2011 for the application of a derogation allowing the trapping of Turtle Dove and Quail between 1 September 2011 and 31 October 2011; and a derogation allowing the trapping of a further two species, Song Thrush and Golden Plover, between 20 October 2011 and 10 January 2012.

"Following the receipt of this recommendation the Ggvernment asked Ornis Malta to submit the information necessary for decisions on the derogations to be taken by the Minister responsible. Recently, the Chair of Ornis Malta submitted the information required to allow the Government to approve the application of a derogation for the trapping of one species, Song Thrush, between 1 November 2011 and 10 January 2012."

The government Monday announced the opening a Song Thrush trapping season starting today and lasting until January 2012, stating that this was based on Ornis Committee recommendations.

But BirdLife campaigns coordinator Geoffrey Saliba said that it had asked Ornis to provide more scientific data for the opening of the trapping season, this analysis was never given to the Office the Prime Minister. BirdLife is a member of the Ornis Committee along with the hunters' federation FKNK.

The surprise announcement came just a few hours before opening the season and in a departure from normal convention, the legal notice has not yet been published.

BirdLife said in a statement that the decision was not based on any Ornis recommendation although this is required under national law, and was also taken without the specific scientific analysis required by the Office the Prime Minister’s policy guidance on hunting and trapping.

The OPM policy recognises that trapping is banned under the Birds Directive, and can only take place under derogation from the law. This means that before declaring a trapping season, the Ornis Committee must present an analysis showing how such a season can be justified as a derogation under the Birds Directive.

The European Commission last June initiated infringement proceedings against Malta for permitting trapping of Turtle Dove, Quail, Golden Plover and Song Thrush because it did not meet the conditions required for a derogation from the Birds Directive.

“This year's Song Thrush trapping season has opened under similar conditions as previous years, just five months after these proceedings. This could result in further legal action being taken against Malta by the Commission risking a court case which can incur financial penalties,” Saliba said.

Welcoming the opening of the season for trapping, the hunters' federatino FKNK said trappers had to endure “unnecessary waiting for action that should have been taken over the past two years.”

“This last-minute announcement further indicates government’s limited knowledge on the practical side of live-capturing that requires a lot of preparation on the trapping site which includes hard physical work and purchase of necessary expensive equipment that is essentially prepared months prior to the actual opening of the season,” FKNK’s secretary-general Lino Farrugia said.

Referring to the Carnet de Chasse booklet, Farrugia said the booklet indicates that the trapping licence holder can also live-capture the turtle dove, quail and golden plover. “However, government has arbitrarily and with no scientific basis issued a policy document in which it stated that live-capture of the turtle dove and quail cannot be permitted. As for the golden plover, government is now saying that it needs more studies,” he said.

Farrugia said the FKNK supplied both government and the Malta Ornis Committee with all the necessary studies, scientific works, papers and more, that contain enough detail to satisfy government’s requirements to be in a position to apply a derogation correctly.

“[We] fail to understand government’s hesitation in declaring open the trapping season of the golden plover that is only serving to unnecessarily deprive legal trappers of more precious hours and days from their normal legal season,” Farrugia insisted.

 The Ornis Committee had recommended an open live-capturing season for the turtle dove and the quail from 1 September to 31 October, and an open live-capturing season for the golden plover and the song thrush from 20 October to 10 January. 

Meanwhile, as from September, the shooting season is open for all four species in a manner that these can be shot at until the end of January.

“These species, with the exception of the song thrush, cannot be captured alive,” he reiterated. 

The federation appealed government to, “imminently declare open a live-capturing season for the golden plover in everyone’s best interest and in the interest of what is fair and just.”