The Malta Ranger Unit said that in March its Rangers in Gozo found 61 sites ”actively trapping finches, waders and quail during the closed season in March.”

The MRU noted that ”most of these were found in the most remote areas of Gozo; Sannat, Gharb, San Lawrenz and Qala.”

The MRU said that the Rangers conducted a ”vast exercise in documenting sites that were used for illegal trapping of birds during the closed season. They worked unnoticed in the most remote areas, thanks to exchange of knowledge from Ranger colleagues abroad.”

”Our Rangers have been in Gozo during both day and night, and what was seen was worse than anticipated,” the MRU said.

The Rangers warned that ”without any presence of Environmental Police, Gozo has a massive issue when it comes to illegal bird poaching, both trapping illegalities and hunting illegalities. The majority of the poaching sites are in addition also full of illegal construction that will be reported.”

”Due to the system not providing properly trained Police Officers, and where the District Officers would prioritise other duties, most of these cases would be set to fail when reported – that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be seen,” said the MRU.

The MRU stated that ”during the next coming years, our Rangers will conduct these exercises and compile data to be sent to the European Commission and local entities. When Environmental Enforcement isn’t given proper resources, the statistics for environmental crimes won’t show the reality.”

The MRU concluded by saying that ”it will show what the ones behind the lack of enforcement want the people to see.”

Photo: MRU – Net seen on a totally unregistered trapping site

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