CONSERVATION OF WILD BIRDS (DECLARATION ON A DEROGATION FOR A 2024 SPRING HUNTING SEASON FOR TURTLE DOVE) REGULATIONS

CONSERVATION OF WILD BIRDS (DECLARATION ON A

DEROGATION FOR A 2024 SPRING HUNTING SEASON

FOR TURTLE DOVE)

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 549.163

CONSERVATION OF WILD BIRDS (DECLARATION

ON A DEROGATION FOR A 2024 SPRING HUNTING

SEASON FOR TURTLE DOVE) REGULATIONS

16th April, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE 89 of 2024.

(1)

The title of these regulations is the Conservation

of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2024 Spring Hunting

Season for Turtle Dove) Regulations and these regulations shall be

read in conjunction with the Framework for Allowing a Derogation

Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail

Regulations.

(2)

These regulations are being issued in line with Article 9

of Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the

Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds,

hereinafter referred to as the "Birds Directive".

(3)

For the purposes of these regulations and within the

meaning of Article 9 of the Birds Directive, the Minister took into

consideration the favourable conservation status of Malta’s reference

population of the Turtle Dove, which is "Stable" *1 .

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms and

expressions used in these regulations, shall have the same meaning

assigned to them in the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations,

hereinafter referred to as the "Wild Birds Regulations" and in the

Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting

Season for Turtle Dove and Quail Regulations.

For the purposes of these regulations, the Turtle Dove is

classified as a huntable species under Part B of Annex II of the Birds

Directive. In this context, the "small numbers" requirement within the

meaning of Article 9(1)(c) of the Birds Directive shall be understood

as "a sample in the order of one percent (1%) of the total annual

mortality of the population in question". For the purposes of these

regulations, "population in question" shall be understood with regard

to these migratory species, as the population of those regions within

the territory of the European Union from which the main contingents

passing through the region come, to which the derogation applies

during its period of application.

* 1 As detailed in the report dated February 2024 on the conservation status of the

Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), which is available on the website: https://

ministryforgozo.gov.mt/en/Pages/WBRU/Reports%20and%20Statistics/

Other%20Reports%E2%80%8B/Other-Reports.aspx

CONSERVATION OF WILD BIRDS (DECLARATION ON A

DEROGATION FOR A 2024 SPRING HUNTING SEASON

FOR TURTLE DOVE)

The one percent (1%) of the total annual mortality of

Malta’s reference population of Turtle Dove shall be calculated as

follows

Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)

Minimum breeding success: 1.084 chicks per pair (115,698 x

1.084) = 125,417

Minimum clutches per year: 2

Mortality rate of first year birds: (250,834 x 73.90%) = 185,366

Mortality rate of adult birds: (231,397 x 36.70%) = 84,923

Total annual mortality: (185,366 + 84,923) = 270,289

1% of total annual mortality: (270,289 x 1%) = 2,703

For the purposes of the fourth proviso to regulation 10(6)

of the Wild Birds Regulations and for the purposes of these

regulations, the period for the hunting of Turtle Dove in spring 2024

shall be from the 17th April to the 30th of April 2024, both dates

included, from two (2) hours before sunrise until noon

Provided that the provisions of these regulations shall

cease to have effect and no hunting activity shall be permitted in the

event that the Minister orders, by notice in the Gazette or any other

notice, that the spring hunting season shall terminate immediately or at

a date as specified by the Minister.

For the purposes of these regulations, the spring hunting

season shall be in accordance with the provisions of the framework

laid down by the Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a

Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail Regulations and

subject to all the conditions as set out in the Spring Hunting Licence.

(1)

The Spring Hunting Licence shall set the overall

bag limit for the spring hunting season at one thousand and five

hundred (1,500) Turtle Doves, as the total number of birds which may

be hunted under the authority of all issued licences taken together.

(2)

The Spring Hunting Licence shall cease to have effect in

the event that the Minister orders, by notice in the Gazette or any other

notice, that the spring hunting season shall terminate immediately or at

a date as specified by the Minister.