The Government has announced the opening of the Song Thrush trapping season from this Monday, the 20th of October, to the 31st of December, both dates inclusive, and for Golden Plover from the 1st of November, to the 10th of January, both dates inclusive.
There is a national quota of 5,000 Song Thrushes and 700 Golden Plovers set by the Government.
Licensed trappers will be required to:
• Immediately report any sandpipers and plovers they catch by calling, free of charge, on 8000 2020 from a mobile number registered in their name, or by using the ‘Game Reporting MT’ mobile app. The systems confirm the report by sending back an SMS as confirmation;
• If they catch a any of the two species with a scientific ring, they are obliged to write all the details on the ringing form, issued in the name of the person with the license, which is included with the special license;
• Report the trapping effort whenever they go out trapping and do not catch anything, before leaving, calling, free of charge, on 8000 2020 from a mobile number registered in their name, or using the ‘Game Reporting MT’ mobile app, as explained in the special license.
The 8000 2020 telephone system provides guidance through easy-to-follow voice messages, and both systems confirm the report by sending back an SMS as confirmation.
The Government stated that, “anyone in possession of a special licence for the trapping of Song Thrush and Golden Plover is legally obliged to observe all regulations relating to this derogation.”
File photo: BLM