Birdlife Malta Condemns PM Robert Abela’s Choice to Loosen Bird Ringing Laws

In a press release, Birdlife Malta condemned Prime Minister Robert Abela’s decision to loosen laws which regulate scientific bird ringing.

Birdlife Malta stated that this move was “a clear step to pacify the hunters’ lobby and disguise illegal bird trapping as a scientific ringing project.”Mark Sultana, the chief executive of Birdlife Malta, stated that “With this decision Robert Abela has confirmed his superficial understanding of environmental conservation and his willingness to do anything to suck up to the hunting lobby.”

The European Court of Justice recently found Malta guilty of breaching the EU Birds Directive due to an alleged scientific research project which allowed for the trapping of seven finch species.

Birdlife Malta claims that “the government has grown desperate” and hence, is trying to attempt to justify this “discredited scheme.”

Clint Camilleri, Minister for Hunting and Trapping, along with Miriam Dalli, Minister for the Environment, have enacted amendments to the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations that would “significantly dilute the standards for scientific bird ringing.”

Due to these amendments, bird trappers can easily call themselves “scientific bird ringers” as “an attempt to disguise illegal trappings as legitimate research,” explained Birdlife Malta.

“This desperate move not only seeks to deceive the European Commission into believing the scheme is scientific – it also opens the door to further abuse.”

Birdlife Malta emphasised that “this plan is destined to fail.”

“Once again, the government has chosen to side with the trappers instead of upholding science, conservation, and Malta’s international obligations.”

#MaltaDaily