Malta has once again reignited tensions with the European Union over bird protection laws, reopening the controversial trapping season for finches, golden plovers, and song thrushes – in direct defiance of two European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings declaring the practice illegal.
Despite repeated warnings from Brussels and mounting evidence from conservation groups, the Maltese government has authorised a record number of trapping sites this year. According to figures published by BirdLife Malta, 2,932 sites for finches and 1,641 for golden plovers and song thrushes have been approved – an increase of 177 compared to last year.
Government justifies trapping as “research”
The government insists that the trapping is permitted under a “scientific research” derogation, a legal exemption meant for limited, controlled study. However, critics say this claim has become a thinly veiled cover for widespread illegal bird capture.
Field data collected by BirdLife Malta during the 2023 autumn season suggested that an estimated 51,400 finches were trapped under this same derogation – birds that should have been released but were instead kept in cages.
Even more concerning, many of the sites where trappers were caught breaking the law in previous years have reportedly been reauthorised again this season for supposed “research purposes”.
Illegal trade and smuggling on the rise
The high number of authorised trapping sites has driven demand for live finches to be used as decoys, fuelling a surge in illegal bird trafficking. Authorities recently intercepted a shipment of finches from Tunisia, allegedly destined for Maltese trapping grounds. In August, Italian authorities seized 2,687 finches in Pozzallo that were being transported by a Maltese national – believed to be part of the same illegal supply chain.
While the number of trapping sites continues to grow, enforcement capacity remains alarmingly limited. The Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) operated at “minimal capacity” during the autumn season, according to BirdLife Malta. The NGO’s field teams documented widespread use of illegal electronic bird callers in the early morning hours, but prosecutions remain rare.
The situation is reportedly worse on Gozo, where no dedicated environmental police are currently in place. BirdLife Malta has urged the public to report illegal trapping and launched a Google Maps tool to help citizens distinguish between authorised and unauthorised sites.
The ECJ ruled in both 2018 and 2024 that Malta’s trapping derogations breach the EU Birds Directive, which strictly prohibits the capture of wild birds except under very limited scientific or conservation conditions. Nonetheless, Malta has continued to open the season each autumn, drawing increasing criticism from environmental groups and EU officials alike.
A recent visit by Minister for Gozo and Hunting Clint Camilleri to Brussels to meet the European Commissioner for the Environment failed to ease tensions. According to EU sources, the meeting did not alter Malta’s legal obligations – ECJ judgments are binding, and no bilateral negotiation can override EU law.
Adding further controversy, Minister Camilleri and Energy and Environment Minister Miriam Dalli recently amended the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations to remove Malta’s affiliation with EURING, the European network for scientific bird ringing. The move effectively allows local hunting federations to create their own ringing scheme – a decision BirdLife Malta described as “an open invitation to abuse the scientific loophole.”
Possible EU action
BirdLife Malta has submitted fresh evidence to the European Commission, calling for escalation of infringement proceedings against Malta. Such proceedings could ultimately lead to financial penalties or further legal sanctions if the country continues to ignore ECJ rulings.
As the trapping season begins, conservationists fear another year of mass bird capture under the guise of research, while the government maintains its stance that its actions are within its rights. The ongoing defiance has placed Malta once again in the EU spotlight – this time as a test case for the enforcement of European environmental law.
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