BirdLife slams government's enforcement claims, CABS to send 32 observers

BirdLife Malta has called into question government's claims that hunting regulations and conditions will be strictly enforced.

Following Tuesday's publication of the dates for the autumn hunting season, the government said "The Police shall monitor closely the observance of hunting regulations and conditions."

However, BirdLlfe Malta said monitoring of previous hunting seasons suggest otherwise.

"For example, last September, during the peak month for migration of birds of prey over Malta, Birdlife Malta alone recorded 311 illegal hunting offences, including 119 incidents of hunters targeting protected species, the organisation said.

Birdlife noted that despite such a large number of infringements only 12 charges were issued by the police for illegal hunting offences.

The NGO said it has no reason to believe that the situation will improve this year.

It said that despite the fact that migration has started and numerous illegal hunting and trapping incidents have been observed, the police's Administrative Law Enforcement (ALE) unit is currently assigned to beach patrols.

Birdlife said in recent weeks the public has been advised to contact the District Police instead of ALE.

"But the District Police are generally unfamiliar with hunting and trapping legislation and the procedures for dealing with these kinds of crimes against wildlife," Birdlife Malta Conservation Manager, Nicholas Barbara said.

The NGO also pointed out that the legislation regulating this year's autumn hunting season "does not take into consideration the spring hunting derogation the government is applying for Turtle Dove and Common Quail

"Since the government is relying solely on the data gathered from hunters for the opening of a spring hunting season, lack of proper control of birds killed in autumn and reported to MEPA creates a major loophole," Birdlife added.

Birdlife explained that both Turtle Dove and Common Quail are in decline in Europe, however in autumn, hunters are allowed to hunt an unlimited number of birds, "with no checks in place to independently verify what is reported to MEPA."

The application of a spring hunting derogation in 2013 will depend on hunters' declared catches this autumn, the NGO said.

Barbara said: "Hunters have an incentive to under-report their kills in the autumn Carnet de Chasse if they want to have a spring hunting season next year."

 He also noted that although the legal notice issued this week did not include a derogation to open an autumn trapping season, the government is reportedly considering a trapping season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover.

"This is despite the EU's 'reasoned opinion' of February this year, Malta's second warning that in relation to trapping seasons opened up until 2011."

The EU had warned Malta of it's non-compliance with the Birds Directive for a trapping season opened last November for just Song Thrush, adding that past trapping seasons have inadvertently been utilised as a loophole for the banned practice of finch trapping.

"We urge the government not to again put Malta in the position of being taken to the European Court of Justice for its failure to protect wild birds," Barbara said.

Meanwhile, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) today announced that it will send 32 Bird Guards to Malta for the autumn hunting season.

CABS, famously involved in the drone incident with hunters last spring, said this was the largest contingent ever sent to Malta.

The German-based organisation said "Operation 'Honey Buzzard' takes place at the peak of bird migration and volunteers will monitor the flight corridors and night roosts of birds of prey, storks and herons around the clock and report offences against hunting law to the police."

CABS said its observers will also detect and check illegal clap nets and cage traps for trapping of Turtle Doves, Quails and protected wader species.

"In order to collect evidence of illegalities for the police, each CABS team is equipped with video cameras and high-performance spotting scopes, " CABS said.

In addition CABS said it offered Police Commissioner John Rizzo the provision - at no cost to the police - of a remote-controlled model aircraft with high-definition video cameras and a qualified operator.

CABS pointed out that the drone will greatly assist the ALE to detect illegal trapping sites, "an important factor in the campaign against illegal trapping."

The orgainisation said that in spring, together with the German TV station RTL, a good number of illegal trapping installations were detected using a drone.