🦅 Can I hunt or trap birds in Malta?

With conditions

Quick answer

Yes but only with a WBRU licence — and this is one of the most contested areas of Maltese law. The Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations (S.L. 549.42), under Cap 549, require a valid licence from the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU); the licensee must be 18, a member of a recognised association and insured. Only the species listed in Schedule II may be shot. Spring hunting runs as an annual derogation — in 2026 quail from 13 April and turtle dove from 20 April to 3 May, with national quotas of 2,400 quail and 1,500 turtle dove. The myth: that finch trapping is a "legal research season", or else that it was "banned outright in 2018" — both misleading. The EU Court of Justice ruled against Malta twice (in 2018 and on 19 September 2024), yet Malta reopened trapping under a "research" label, and there are fresh infringement proceedings from the European Commission.

📋 The rules

You need a valid WBRU licence to hunt or trap; the licensee must be 18 and a member of a recognised association.
Only Schedule II species may be shot; hunting a protected bird (Schedule I) is a grave offence.
Spring hunting is an annual derogation — in 2026, quail and turtle dove from April to 3 May, from two hours before sunrise until noon.
A penalty-points system applies: 12 points or more within two years brings an automatic one-year licence suspension.
Finch trapping was ruled unlawful by the CJEU (2018 and 2024), although Malta keeps authorising it under "research".

🔓 Exceptions

A farmer may take measures against damaging birds only under specific WBRU conditions and derogations.
Quotas and seasons change every year through legal notices — what applied last year may not apply this year.
Even where a derogation is issued, any conduct beyond what is authorised — such as keeping trapped birds — remains illegal.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Penalties in this area are harsh and include losing your licence. Under Regulation 27 of S.L. 549.42, a first conviction for a breach brings a fine of €500 to €5,000 together with confiscation and a licence suspension of 2 to 5 years; a second conviction can reach €1,000 to €10,000 or 6 months to 2 years in prison and permanent revocation. Hunting or taking a protected bird brings a fine of €5,000 or one year in prison and permanent revocation. Anyone hunting or trapping without a valid licence can face a lifetime disqualification alongside the repeat-offence penalties. Beyond the figures, the finch-trapping issue places Malta under EU infringement proceedings, and taking part in activity that runs against the CJEU rulings carries real legal risk for the individual, not just for the State.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

What is the legal status of finch trapping right now?

It is legally contested: the CJEU ruled against Malta twice, in 2018 and on 19 September 2024, that the trapping derogation breaches the EU Directive. Malta reopened the season under a "research" label anyway, and the European Commission opened fresh infringement proceedings, so you cannot simply treat it as "legal".

How do I get a hunting licence?

The licence is issued by the WBRU and only held if you are at least 18, a member of a recognised association, insured and holding the firearms permit. You must respect the schedules of permitted species and the penalty-points system; a breach can bring suspension or revocation of the licence.

When does the spring hunting season open?

It changes every year through legal notices: in 2026 quail opened from 13 April and turtle dove from 20 April, both until 3 May, from two hours before sunrise until noon. The national quotas were 2,400 quail and 1,500 turtle dove, with no individual bag limit.

What is the fine if I hunt without a licence?

Hunting or trapping without a valid licence is treated as a repeat offence, with a fine of €1,000 to €10,000 or six months to two years in prison, and a lifetime disqualification. Hunting a protected bird can cost €5,000 or a year in prison and permanent revocation of the licence.

Isn't spring turtle dove hunting prohibited?

There was a voluntary moratorium on turtle dove from 2017 to 2021, but it was reintroduced from 2022 through a derogation. So pages written before 2022 saying spring turtle dove hunting is prohibited are out of date — today it runs under a contested annual derogation.

🔎 Common searches

What people search to land here:

“hunting malta law”
“hunting licence wbru”
“bird trapping malta”
“spring hunting 2026 malta”
“cjeu finch trapping malta”
“s.l. 549.42 malta”