A bird trapper from Gozo has been fined €8,000 for illegal finch trapping close to San Lawrenz during the closed season in spring. His trapping permit and hunting licence were also revoked for life, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter said.

CABS saidthat it reported the case to the police on March 23 after volunteers observed and photographed the man operating an active clap net and an illegal electronic bird caller to attract finches to the trapping site.

According to CABS the man is a repeat offender with at least one prior conviction related to the illegal trapping of birds.

CABS president Heinz Schwarze welcomed the verdict as a “very clear and strong signal to poachers that the society is not going to tolerate their actions anymore”.

The NGO said it will be monitoring the trapping season with up to three teams until December and report all cases of illegal trapping to the police.

“In case the season has to be closed because the EC seeks a temporary embargo we will be there to monitor the ban and report all active sites to the police,” CABS Wildlife crime Officer Fiona Burrows said.