CONSERVATION OF WILD BIRDS (DECLARATION ON A DEROGATION FOR A 2026 SPRING HUNTING SEASON FOR TURTLE DOVE) [ S.L. 549.183] 1 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 549.183 CONSERVATION OF WILD BIRDS (DECLARATION ON A DEROGATION FOR A 2026 SPRING HUNTING SEASON FOR TURTLE DOVE) REGULATIONS 30th March, 2026 LEGAL NOTICE 81 of 2026. 1.
(1)The title of these regulations is the Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2026 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. Citation and scope. S.L. 549.57.
(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 conservation status of Malta’s reference population of the Turtle Dove. **
- Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms and expressions used in these regulations, shall have the same meaning as 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. Interpretation. S.L. 549.
- S.L. 549.
- 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. Determination of reference population and small numbers. **1 As detailed in the report dated March 2026 on the conservation status of the Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), which is available on the website: https:// wbru.gov.mt/en/resources/reports-and-statistics/other-reports/. 2 [ S.L. 549.183] Calculation of 1% of the total annual mortality of the reference population. CONSERVATION OF WILD BIRDS (DECLARATION ON A DEROGATION FOR A 2026 SPRING HUNTING SEASON FOR TURTLE DOVE) 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: 2.029 chicks per pair (117,746 x 2.029) = 238,907 Mortality rate of first year birds: (238,907 x 68.90%) = 164,607 Mortality rate of adult birds: (235,492 x 36.70%) = 86,426 Total annual mortality: (164,607 + 86,426) = 251,032 1% of total annual mortality: (251,032 x 1%) = 2,510 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 2026 shall be from the 20th of April to the 3rd of May 2026, 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.
- 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 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.