Watch: ‘An Embarrassment To Science’ – BirdLife Presents Findings On Finch Trapping In Anticipation Of EU Case Case
NGO BirdLife Malta revealed that a minimum of 51,400 finch birds were trapped from permitted sites and taken into captivity in just one season, according to a report by the organisation on the finch trapping derogations, which was labelled an “embarrassment to science”.
Footage obtained by the NGO during the 2023 finch trapping derogation illustrates how trappers capture the finches and hold them captive, rather than releasing them, “abusing the smokescreen finch ‘scientific research’ derogation.”
This clip substantiates BirdLife’s report on the derogation which contains observations spanning from October to December 2023.
The report was delivered to the European Court of Justice in anticipation of an imminent hearing instigated by the European Commission against Malta concerning its contentious annual trapping exemptions for purported ‘scientific research’. The initial hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
In procuring their findings, BirdLife Malta systematically monitored numerous trapping locations to gain a deeper understanding of the ramifications of this trapping derogation, which according to the NGO is hiding under the pretence of a ‘scientific research’ endeavour.
The ‘research’ derogation, LN/237/23, described as a “smokescreen” by BirdLife, also allows for the trapping of seven Finch species between 20 December and 20 October with no quota.
Last autumn, there were over 2,600 legally permitted sites for trapping finches. However, BirdLife Malta’s fieldwork uncovered an even larger number of illegal trapping sites. Some of these sites were registered with the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU) after reports were filed with the police.
In addition, legally registered finch trapping sites were observed violating the derogation conditions, as finches were caught and retained in all instances.
“We calculate that a minimum of 51,400 finches have been trapped from permitted sites and taken into captivity during the past season, instead of being released,” BirdLife Malta Head of Conservation Nicholas Barbara stated.
“This is a far cry from any scientific research activity which the derogation is supposedly aimed for,” she continued.
She went on to say how the derogation, not only is “a scam and a smokescreen for illegal trapping, but it is also an unjustified killing which has failed to bring about any noteworthy scientific data.”
BirdLife Malta also highlighted how this derogation has contributed to the illegal trade of finches over recent years, with thousands of these birds being smuggled into Malta from Sicily to serve as live decoys.
BirdLife Malta Head of Conservation Nicholas Barbara stated that “apart from it being an embarrassment to science, the trapping of finches – which are protected across Europe – goes against what was agreed in Malta’s Accession Treaty to the EU, along with the European Birds Directive and against the landmark 2018 ECJ judgment that had found Malta guilty of infringing European law when it allowed finch trapping to reopen.”
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