Trapper fined €1,200, has licence suspended

A young man filmed by a CABS team illegally trapping Dotterel near San Raflu in Gozo last week was fined €1,200 after he filed a guilty plea before the Gozo court today. His hunting licence was suspended for one year and his trapping equipment – worth several thousand euros – was confiscated. Seven Dotterels used by the man as decoys  were released into the wild last week by Mepa employees. CABS volunteer Lloyd Scott, who was called as a witness but was not required to give verbal evidence as the trapper pleaded guilty, greeted the verdict. “We are more than pleased that the police and the courts have reacted rapidly and effectively in this case. We hope that this will serve as an example and deterrence to other would-be illegal trappers” he said in a statement. CABS said they would be closely monitoring the trapping scene before the start of the official season for Thrush and Golden Plover on October 20.  Another man, who was filmed by a CABS team illegally trapping waders near Zurrieq last week (Sep18) will also be appearing in court in due course. According to CABS, around 5am the man had activated three 40m long clap nets and an electronic decoy to trap Redshank and...