S.L. 549.145 Art. 7Catch and release. 6 [S.L. 7

(1) Birds from the relevant species may only be

* ** A report on selectivity and mesh-size and how the clap-net system operates was presented by the Wild Birds Regulation Unit to the Mata Ornis Committee on 31 July 2019 (included as Annex A to the Committee minutes of the same meeting) and is available at: https://mgoz.gov.mt/en/Documents/WBRU/ Reports%20and%20Statistics/selMesSizMetUseLiCa.pdf 549.145 SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON SEVEN FINCH SPECIES)

captured for the purpose of control and, or affixing of scientific rings and, or satellite-tags.

(2) All specimens shall be immediately released back into the wild, including those that are not fitted with a scientific ring or satellite-tag.

(3) Prior to the immediate release of all birds from the relevant species fitted with a scientific ring, the licensee shall record the details of each specimen and its scientific ring identification number on the ring recovery form issued by the Regulatory Body.

(4) Before the immediate release of all birds from the relevant species not fitted with a scientific ring, such birds may be fitted with a satellite-tag by the licensee or with a scientific ring and, or satellite-tag by a licensed bird-ringer.

(5) A licensed bird-ringer shall be authorised to fit specimens from the relevant species with a scientific ring from the same research station that was submitted at application stage by the data collector with whom a prior agreement was reached for joint participation in this research project. The licensed bird-ringer shall also record the scientific ring identification numbers s/he fitted on the specimens, details of the specimens and the location of the site from where they were captured on the ring recovery form issued by the Regulatory Body on the data collector’s name and shall also send an email with the relevant details on the same day to the Regulatory Body, as explained in the special research licence.

(6) Only licensees in possession of a valid live-capturing licence who attend a training session on satellite-tagging may be issued with a separate special licence to carry out satellite-tagging and shall be subject to all conditions set out therein in accordance with regulations 10, 11 and 12.

(7) Notwithstanding and without prejudice to the number of satellite-tags that may be procured by the Regulatory Body, the distribution of these satellite-tags to licensees who attend the training session shall be at the sole discretion of the Regulatory Body and such decision shall be based on an a priori assessment of the deliverables as specified in regulation 5.

(8) All specimens from the relevant species captured by the data collector, including those not fitted with a scientific ring or satellite-tag, shall be immediately reported to the Regulatory Body in real-time as explained in the special research licence:

Provided that all ring recovery forms shall be returned in hard format to the Regulatory Body within the period as specified by the same Regulatory Body following closure of the research period.