Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2024 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove) Regulations, 2024. L.N. 89 of 2024

B 504 B 504 L.N. 89 of 2024 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT (CAP. 549) Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2024 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove) Regulations, 2024 IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by articles 54 and 55 of the Environment Protection Act, the Minister responsible for the environment in conjunction with the Minister for Gozo and Planning and after consultation with the Environment and Resources Authority, and after taking into consideration the recommendations of the Ornis Committee, has made the following regulations: Citation and scope. S.L. 549.57. 1. (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, 2024 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. Interpretation. S.L. 549.42. S.L. 549.57. 2. 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. Determination of reference population and small numbers. 3. 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 *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 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA B 505 B 505 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. Calculation of 1% of the total annual mortality of the reference population. 4. 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 Establishment of spring hunting season. S.L. 549.42. 5. 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. Hunting according to set framework. S.L. 549.57. 6. 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. Special licence and quotas. 7. (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 VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA B 506 Ippubblikat mid-Dipartiment tal-Informazzjoni (doi.gov.mt) — Valletta — Published by the Department of Information (doi.gov.mt) — Valletta Mitbugħ fl-Istamperija tal-Gvern fuq karta FSC — Printed at the Government Printing Press on FSC certified paper Prezz/Price €0.27 B 506 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. VERŻJONI ELETTRONIKA