Be the first to comment!BLM congratulates Italian authorities for busting the smuggling of 2,867 finches
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BirdLife Malta has congratulated the Italian authorities for “busting the smuggling of 2,867 live finches destined for Malta from Pozzallo in Sicily.”
BLM said that the bust, which was reported in the Italian media, with an estimated value of €400,000, “is yet another dent in the illegal finch trade between Sicily and Malta, aimed at supplying birds to be used as live decoys for trapping later in autumn.”
Birdlife Malta highlighted that on the 17th of July, the Wild Birds Regulation Unit announced it would be receiving applications for a derogation to “research finches” by trappers – a practice, the NGO said, that was declared illegal by a European Court of Justice ruling in September 2024.
BLM argued that “despite being presented as a research initiative, the derogation is exploited by many trappers in Malta to disguise continued illegal trapping of finches, which was also declared illegal in another European Court of Justice ruling in 2018.”
“The continued hope given to trappers by the government that trapping will continue as before – despite two European Court of Justice rulings declaring it illegal – directly fuels the illegal trade of protected finches between the two islands. Finches are first illegally trapped in Sicily, smuggled to Malta, and sold to trappers from garages and markets to be used as live decoys by Maltese trappers to illegally trap more finches migrating through in autumn,” stated Nicholas Barbara, Head of Conservation at BirdLife Malta.
He went on to say that “while such busts are occasional, very few similar initiatives are reported in local media, despite BirdLife Malta regularly providing the police with information on the possession and illegal sale of these protected species.”
BirdLife Malta said that, “anyone witnessing the sale or trade of such birds from garages, markets, pet shops, or other points of sale is encouraged to contact BirdLife Malta or the police with information.”
“The promise of yet another illegal finch-trapping season is expected to result in further attempts at smuggling and illegal trade,” stated BirdLife Malta.
The reports in the Italian media can be viewed here: https://www.ragusanews.com/pozzallo-scoperto-traffico…/ and by clicking here.
