BirdLife Malta has accused the Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) of “attempting to greenwash finch trapping by asking the BirdLife Malta Ringing Scheme to provide scientific rings.”
In a statement BLM said that “following constant attempts by FKNK to discredit BirdLife Malta and its scientific ringing scheme, BirdLife Malta denies ever rejecting collaboration with buona fide foreign bird ringers for genuine scientific research.”
It explained that the BirdLife Malta Ringing Scheme is EURING’s network representative in Malta and it is highly recognised within the entire network for its high level of participation and professionalism. “The ringing scheme has collaborated with various foreign ringers and with the various local authorities including Wild Birds regulation Unit.”
BLM claimed that “in the past days a Mr Declan Coney requested BirdLife Malta ringing scheme to furnish him with 600 rings. This triggered an established verification process, but Mr Coney never replied to the last email sent to him. Unlike what FKNK is trying to insinuate, BirdLife Malta never even reached the point to accept or reject Mr Coney’s request.”
“FKNK’s amateur approach to science does not allow them to comprehend that prior to giving rings that bear BirdLife Malta’s details we need to make sure the person is genuine and skilled, and the project is scientifically sound. BirdLife Malta’s ringing scheme within EURING is a credible scientific operation and FKNK was hoping it could use the scheme to try and smokescreen the scam of the finch trapping derogation further,” stated BirdLife CEO Mark Sultana.
He stressed that “the Government’s hard-headedness to pursue with the trapping derogation, even after it was found illegal by the ECJ twice, is a way to allow finches to be trapped and kept in captivity. Very few people are gullible enough to believe the present derogation is in any way scientific.”
In view of this Birdlife Malta said that it “will not be dragged into becoming an accomplice with this illegality and scam since the only intention is to cover this illegal trapping activity.”
BLM concluded by saying, “the government has created a smokescreen and Birdlife Malta is doing its utmost to stop this by demanding and supporting the EU Commission to take immediate action.”
File photo: BLM