Trappers’ hope for finch trapping fades

Trappers are unlikely to have a five-year ban on finch trapping lifted this year, according to a top hunting official. Lino Farrugia, general secretary of the hunting federation FKNK, said he was “not hopeful” the Government would allow trapping for finches, which stopped being practised in 2009 after a transitional period agreed with the EU expired. “It seems the Government is not yet prepared for it, at least these are the indications we are getting,” Mr Farrugia said when contacted yesterday in the wake of a stormy meeting of the Ornis Committee, a consultative body. The hunting federation wants the Government to apply a derogation and open an autumn/winter finch trapping season. It made its proposal during Tuesday’s Ornis Committee meeting. Full story in The Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.