Editorial | Wednesday, 07 January 2009

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The end of trapping

When Malta started to negotiate with the European Union to become a full member, it was obvious that certain age-old practices would no longer be tolerated.
In 1979 the Berne Convention had already stipulated that certain aspects of both hunting and trapping were not possible. The EU’s birds and habitats directive was structured on this convention. The directive is clear and as a result no country in the European Union is allowed to carry out hunting in spring, or trapping at any time of the year.
Indeed, bird trapping was long considered an impossible option... although ironically, the only country to allow trapping of song birds for a short time period was Belgium. The derogation only allowed for a limited number of finches to be captured – the special exemption was granted to allow for the so-called genetic replenishment of aviary birds.
In the campaign for the national elections in 2003, the issue of hunting and trapping was typically on the minds of political leaders. As always, hunters blackmailed the political parties by threatening to boycott them with their vote.
The Nationalist party attempted (and succeeded) to give the impression that hunting and trapping would continue after accession. While it is true that there was a slim chance of Malta being allowed to carry out limited practices, had it adhered to very strict conditions, in practice, the impression was false.
Thankfully for the Nationalist administration, the hunters’ federation continued to inform its members that hunting and trapping would still be possible if it renegotiated the package. As a result, the false hopes fomented by the government were fuelled by the arrogance of the hunter’s representatives.
During negotiations, an agreement stipulated that Malta would provide a detailed carnet de chasse of all birds caught in spring, while committing itself to provide a pilot project to breed song birds, and to control illegal hunting.
The government additionally undertook a commitment not to issue any more new licences; but secretively, it issued 400 new trapping licences, and many more licences were backdated and regularised before the national election of 2003.
Of all the commitments incurred during the negotiations, both government and the hunters’ representation failed miserably to implement a single one.
In the four years since accession, the government simply reneged on its responsibility, while the hunters and trappers continued to protest that they had found a way forward.
And yet, the negotiated package stated in black on white that trapping would end in 2009, and there is no way that trapping will be resumed.
The transition period was simply ignored, and the opportunity to uphold any form of bona fide hunting and trapping activities was lost forever.
This newspaper welcomes the end to trapping. It marks an end to decades of mediocre wildlife trapping that led to the depletion of avifauna and the destruction of hectares of natural habitat.
The release of this land will benefit the general public, and boost the regeneration of natural habitats such as garigue and maquis, that have been destroyed over the years. Much of this land consisted in public and private property, which trappers often used without any title.
The end to trapping will give birds a chance to recolonise the Maltese islands, just in the same way as other Mediterranean islands such as Linosa, Lampedusa and Pantelleria provide for a vast diversity of birdlife.
In the meantime, the ministry responsible for rural affairs would do well to set up an action group to look into the use of many of the trapping sites that will be vacated, releasing large tracts of natural habitat and agricultural land.
Typically, the administration has failed to ponder on the implications of the end of trapping. It is high time that it starts to look swiftly into this new development.

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