Worrying increase in songbird trapping in Cyprus

[rolf]

Reading this report, it outlines considerable increase in Autumn 2010, particularly in the UK sovereign base region. Something has to be done.

2. The picture emerging from autumn 2010 is one of a bird trapping disaster on a scale
unseen since BirdLife’s monitoring work began almost 10 years ago. Trapping levels
may still be lower than in the 1990s, but this cannot hide the fact that we are now faced
with a conservation emergency in Cyprus.
3. A 75% increase in mist net use and an 89% increase in limestick setting compared to
autumn 2009 are simply unacceptable. Autumn trapping levels have been on a general
upward trend for four years now.
4. A nine-year high in mist netting activity represents a serious failure on the part of both
Cyprus and the UK (mist netting levels were five times higher in the Dhekelia Sovereign
Base Area than in Republic areas). As EU Member States, both have obligations under
the EU Birds Directive (2009/147/EC, ex 79/409/EEC) to protect birds, and migrant birds in
particular.
5. The estimated toll of around 1.4 million birds within the Famagusta and Larnaca
districts represents an ecological disaster, especially when the non-selective nature of
trapping is taken into account. Trappers are making hundreds of thousands of Euros by
selling blackcaps and other birds to be served up as illegal, expensive ambelopoulia
delicacies.

[Catherine]

It's just sickening, Rolf.

I've just checked (as I've never been to Cyprus), and I see Famagusta is in the Turkish sector and Larnaca is in the Greek part.

The former may be difficult to regulate as it has no connection with the EU, but surely the EU can do something about this situation in the Larnaca area? After all, the EU seems to have time to tell us what constitute sausages and ice cream, and keep telling us to change our legal system!!!