BTO statement in relation to finch trapping and ringing in Malta
25 Nov 2024
BTO statement in relation to finch trapping and ringing in Malta
We have received a number of complaints regarding the involvement of a ringer holding a BTO permit in a finch-trapping initiative being run by the Maltese government. Under this initiative large numbers of finches are being trapped, purportedly to search for previously ringed birds and using essentially the same techniques as were used previously to catch finches in order to take them into captivity. Most of those involved were participants in previous finch-trapping activities in Malta.
Earlier this year, the European Commission brought a successful case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which found that the Republic of Malta failed to fulfil its obligations under European law on the conservation of wild birds.
The involvement of a ringer holding a BTO permit has been reviewed carefully, in particular with reference to the evidence provided by BTO Research Fellow, Dr Stephen Baillie, to the European Commission in support of their case. This evidence failed to identify any legitimate scientific reason for the large-scale trapping of finches in Malta. The individual about whom complaints have been raised is not currently ringing finches in Malta, having not been granted rings by the coordinators of the Maltese Ringing Scheme, Birdlife Malta. However, we believe that they may be participating in the ongoing finch trapping activities, which have been authorised this autumn by the Maltese government despite the ECJ ruling.
We have genuine concerns that, because the individual in question holds a ringing permit issued by the BTO's Licensing Team, third parties may make the incorrect assumption that the fieldwork that this individual is undertaking is associated with, and therefore supported by, BTO. We therefore consider that the actions of this ringer pose a significant reputational risk to BTO and the delivery of our scientific and charitable work.
BTO's Senior Leadership Team has, therefore, made an organisational decision to temporarily suspend this individual's ringing permit, pending further investigation. In addition, BTO will issue a statement outlining why the current trapping of finches in Malta, allegedly for scientific purposes, is not an appropriate activity. We will inform all holders of a BTO ringing permit that any individual involved in similar projects in future, where the lack of a legal basis has the potential to cause reputational risk, may find themselves facing sanction.
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