S.L. 549.170 Art. 2Scope, statement of reasons and evidence that there is no other satisfactory solution. 2 [S.L.

(1) For the purpose of these regulations and within the meaning of 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", given that in Malta, Golden Plovers and Song Thrushes neither breed in the wild nor in captivity, the Minister is hereby ascertaining the absence of another satisfactory solution for the acquisition of live specimens from these two (2) species other than by means of live-capturing using clap-nets as the most selective method * of capture* in small numbers, and insofar as it is absolutely necessary to replenish the limited stock of live-birds in captivity for use as live-decoys during open hunting seasons.

(2) For the purpose of these regulations and within the meaning of Article 9 of the Birds Directive, the Minister took into consideration the favourable conservation status of the Golden Plover and Song Thrush at both the European ("Stable" and "Moderate Increase" respectively) and EU levels ("Secure"), and also took into † consideration their IUCN classification as "Least Concern" *.

** A report on selectivity and mesh-size and how the clap-net system operates was presented by the Wild Birds Regulation Unit to the Malta Ornis Committee on 31 July 2019 (included as Annex A to the Committee minutes of the same meeting) and is available on the site: https://wbru.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ oMinThirtstJul19.pdf. †* The August 2024 report on the conservation status of the Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria altifrons) and Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) was presented to the Ornis Committee on 5 September 2024 and is available on the site: https://wbru.gov.mt/en/ resources/reports-and-statistics/other-reports/. DEROGATION FOR AN AUTUMN 2024 LIVE-CAPTURING 549.170 SEASON FOR SONG THRUSH AND GOLDEN PLOVER)