BirdLife Malta is satisfied with the outcome of the European Court of Justice ruling issued today,19th September, where it declared the finch trapping derogation of seven species of finches as illegal and goes against the EU Birds Directive. This sentence has brought the end of finch trapping in Malta.
On joining the European Union, Malta had signed an agreement to phase out trapping and by 2009 this activity was not allowed anymore. In 2014 the Maltese Government had a change of heart and re-opened finch trapping seasons under article (9)1c of the Birds Directive by applying a derogation. The EU Commission challenged this decision by opening an infringement process and in 2018 the European Court of Justice had declared finch trapping as illegal. Determined to appease the trapping lobby, the Government tried to then smoke-screen finch trapping by declaring it as a scientific derogation under Article (9)1a. The idea that trappers would catch finches and release them back immediately, after checking if they were carrying any scientific rings on them, was a farce that led the EU Commission to once again challenge this practice before the EU Court – process which ended today with the clear sentence.
This ruling sends a clear message that decisions related to birds and nature should be based on solid science. “BirdLife Malta has always insisted that the Ornis Committee should be more science-based. Members on this committee need to be able to understand science to be able to give the right advice to Government. BirdLife Malta was the only member on this committee that had voted against this derogation as it was clear from day one that this was nothing but a smokescreen and had no scientific or conservation value. The European Court of Justice today vindicated our reasoning and advice.” – Nicholas Barbara Head of Conservation.
“Now that the sentence is out and very clear, we demand the Government to respect it and declare the end of Finch Trapping once and for all. We remind the Government that we had been giving it the right advice all along including during Ornis Committee meetings. It is a pity that we were not listened to, and that it had to end up in court. Now the Government has no choice but to listen and obey the EU Court sentence.” – Mark Sultana CEO.
Read the Maltese version of the press release here.