The Gozo Ministry has confirmed that the trapping season opens as of tomorrow morning after the having decided to adopt the ORNIS Committee recommendations voted upon two weeks ago.

BirdLife Malta said that according to the legal notices published today, trappers will be once again allowed to catch seven species of songbirds between the 20th October and 20th December “for research purposes.”

This year The Gozo Minstry said that everybody participating in the research project will be:

Obliged to report every song bird that has been trapped (species and amount) as soon as they release them once more immediately on 8000 2020 without charge from a mobile registered in their name or through the mobile app – Game Reporting MT. The system confirms receipt by a reply SMS;

Obliged to write the details on the bird-ringing form a song bird is trapped wearing a scientific ring;

Every bird trapped wearing a scientific ring has to be reported on the same day as explained in the special licence;

Urged to take a short video showing the bird being released from the same place as caught as detailed in the special licence;

Report to Research Effort each time of participation in the research project and has not trapped any song bird to contact 8000 2020 free of charge.

BirdLife said that statistics published by the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU) point to circa 2,600 trapping sites being authorised for the blanket “scientific research” season as of tomorrow.

The trapping of 5,000 Song Thrushes (Malvizz) is being permitted between the 20th October and the 31st December, while the trapping of 700 Golden Plover (Pluviera) is being permitted between the 1st November to the 10th January.

The Gozo Ministry said that everyone licenced to trap these birds are:

Obliged to immediately report every bird trapped on 8000 2020 or by using the mobile app – Game Reporting MT. The system will inform receipt by return SMS;

When catching one of these birds wearing a scientific ring they are obliged to write all the details on the appropriate form included in the special licence granted in the name of the person licenced;

To report to the Trapping effort when no bird has been trapped 8000 2020 or through the mobile app – Game Reporting MT.

Telephone 8000 2020 will provide a message in simple language and will reply in an SMS.

The NGO pointed out that statistics pertaining to the actual trapping sites for this derogation have not as yet been published and BirdLife Malta said that it has sent a request for information to WBRU on this regard.

BirdLife stated that “both derogations are under the scrutiny of the European Commission, with the finch research derogation awaiting to be appointed before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for the trial to start.”

The Legal Notice published today are listed below:

https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2022/255/eng

https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2022/256/eng

https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2022/257/eng

https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2022/258/eng

https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2022/259/eng

Photo: BirdLife Malta

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