EU forces France to ban 'barbaric glue traps'
Thanks in large part to a campaign run by Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO), Birdlife’s Partner in France, President Emmanuel Macron has announced a one-year suspension on the trapping of wild birds with glue.
Using glue sticks to catch birds has been outlawed in Europe since the 1979 Bird Directive, except in specific circumstances where the practice is “controlled, selective and in limited quantities”. Since 1989, France has invoked these circumstances to permit glue-trapping in five south-east departments on the grounds that it is “traditional”. Last year the French government approved the trapping of 42,500 thrushes in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
In April 2019 LPO filed a complaint with the European Commission which included evidence from hidden cameras to prove that the practice is not selective and poses a threat to endangered species, which persuaded the European commission to act. The commission opened an infringement procedure against France stating that the non-selective trapping method was not permitted by the EU. The French Government was given three months to respond and now President Macron has made his decision.
Earlier this year Willy Schraen, the president of the Hunting Federation, said he was in “complete disagreement” with the government’s decision to follow the directive and warned hunters would take legal action.
“I hope the minister will not listen to the sirens in Brussels and will remain true to what France, with its traditions and strong values, represents. This is a very ancient way of capturing birds,”
He added: “I don’t think it’s barbaric. I don’t think those who practise this chasse à la glu are thugs. They are people with strong values who are happy to catch a few birds. Why is this a problem? The real question is … why is the head of environment in Europe wasting time persecuting a few Gaulois?”
“We will legally defend glue-trapping because it is a symbol [of our culture].”
Verilhac had urged the government not to give in. “If they do, the French people will find themselves paying millions in fines for the sake of 5,000 hunters,” he said.
Responding to the news LPO president Allain Bougrain Dubourg said “this is a great day for biodiversity, the LPO and all citizens sensitive to the issues of nature protection. We salute the courage of Minister Barbara Pompili who was able to resist unacceptable pressures ”.
For years, the LPO has been fighting to obtain the abolition of glue hunting and hoep the current supsension will become a permanent ban.
1 September 2020
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