In Malta, matters related to conservation of wild birds, including activities such as hunting, trapping and trade in wild birds are regulated primarily through the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations, 2006 (S.L. 549.42), which in turn, transposes obligations of the EC Birds Directive 2009/147/EC.

Also of relevance is the Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations, 2006 (S.L. 549.44) as well as a host of multilateral obligations related to the implementation of multilateral agreements to which Malta is a party, including Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also known as CMS or Bonn Convention), Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Berne Convention), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and a range of binding and non-binding instruments, protocols and recommendations implemented under the above multilateral agreements.

The National Environment Policy (NEP) and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), provide a broad national policy direction to the regulation of hunting and trapping activities.

Legal Notices:

LN 79/2006: (amended): Environment Protection Act (Act No XX of 2001) Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations, 2006.

LN 422/2011: Environment and Development Planning Act, 2010 (Cap. 504) – Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a period for Taking, Song Thrush, 2011) Regulations, 2011.

LN 108/2012: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2012 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail) Regulations, 2012.

LN 279/2012: Environment and Development Planning Act (Cap. 504) Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of the periods for Hunting in Autumn – Winter 2012 – 2013) Regulations, 2012.

LN 285/2012: Environment and Development Planning Act (Cap. 504) Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of the periods for Hunting in Autumn – Winter 2012 – 2013) (Amendment) Regulations, 2012.

LN 303/2012: Environment and Development Planning Act (Cap. 504) Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2012.

LN 304/2012: Environment and Development Planning Act (Cap. 504) Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a derogation for a 2012 Autumn live-capturing season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2012.

LN 91/2013: Environment and Development Planning Act (Cap. 504) Conservation of Wild Birds (Culling of Birds) (Amendment) Notice, 2013.

LN 122/2013: Environment and Development Planning Act (Cap. 504) – Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail) (Amendment) Regulations, 2013.

LN 123/2013: Environment and Development Planning Act (Cap. 504) – Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2013 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail) Regulations, 2013.

LN 248/2013: Environment and Development Planning Act (Cap. 504) – Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of the periods for Hunting in Autumn – Winter 2013 – 2014) Regulations, 2013.

LN 255/2013: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation for the Control of Birds in the Interest of Air-Safety) Regulations, 2013.

LN 256/2013: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Derogation for the Control of Sturnus vulgaris) Regulations, 2013.

LN 272/2013: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of the periods for Hunting in Autumn–Winter 2013–2014) (Amendment) Regulations, 2013.

LN 279/2013: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) (Amendment) Regulations, 2013.

LN 280/2013: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2013 Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2013.

LN 341/2013: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment) Regulations, 2013.

LN 86/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtledove and Quail) (Amendment) Regulations, 2014.

LN 87/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2014 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail Regulations, 2014.

LN 110/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment) Regulations, 2014

LN 207/2014: Protection of Wild Rabbit Regulations, 2014

LN 250/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2014 Autumn live-capturing season for Finches) Regulations, 2014

LN 251/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2014 Autumn live-capturing season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2014

LN 252/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment No.2) Regulations, 2014

LN 253/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Finches) Regulations, 2014

LN 254/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) (Amendment)Regulations, 2014

LN 288/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Finches) (Amendment) Regulations, 2014

LN 289/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations, 2014

LN 380/2014: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Derogation for the Control of Sturnus vulgaris and Columba livia) Regulations, 2014

LN 60/2015: Protection of Wild Rabbit (Amendment) Regulations, 2015

LN 113/2015: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2015 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail) Regulations, 2015.

LN 142/2015: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2015 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail) (Revocation) Regulations, 2015.

LN 213/2015: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Derogation for the Control of Sturnus vulgaris and Columba livia) Regulations, 2015

LN 281/2015: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment) Regulations, 2015

LN 330/2015: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a derogation for a 2015 Autumn live-capturing season for Finches) Regulations, 2015

LN 331/2015: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a derogation for a 2015 Autumn live-capturing season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2015

LN 69/2016: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment) Regulations, 2016

LN 77/2016: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of the Autumn Hunting Season for Turtle Dove) Regulations, 2016

LN 89/2016: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2016 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail) Regulations, 2016.

LN 90/2016: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtledove and Quail) (Amendment) Regulations, 2016.

LN 133/2016: Protection of Wild Rabbit (Amendment) Regulations,2016

LN 319/2016: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Finches) (Amendment) Regulations, 2016

LN 320/2016: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) (Amendment) Regulations, 2016

LN 321/2016: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2016 Live-capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2016

LN 322/2016: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2016 Live-capturing Season for Finches) Regulations, 2016

LN 363/2016: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Derogation for the Control of Sturnus vulgaris and Columba livia) Regulations, 2016

LN 82/2017: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail) (Amendment) Regulations, 2017

LN 83/2017: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2017 Spring Hunting Season for Quail) Regulations, 2017

LN 294/2017: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2017 Live-Capturing Season for Finches) Regulations, 2017

LN 295/2017: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2017 Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2017

LN 300/2017: Majjistral Nature and History Park Site (Amendment) Regulations, 2017

LN 91/2018: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2018 Spring Hunting Season for Quail) Regulations, 2018

LN 333/2018: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) (Amendment) Regulations, 2018

LN 334/2018: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2018 Live-capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2018

LN 342/2018: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Derogation for the Control of Sturnus vulgaris and Columba livia) Regulations, 2018

LN368/2018: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment) Regulations, 2018.

LN 383/2018: Framework For Allowing a Derogation Opening An Autumn Live-Capturing Season For Finches (Revocation) Regulations, 2018

LN 64/2019: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2019 Spring Hunting Season for Quail) Regulations, 2019

LN 65/2019: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation for the Control of Birds in the Interest of Air-safety) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019

L.N 66/2019: Regolamenti tal-2019 dwar il-Konservazzjoni tal-Għasafar Selvaġġi (Dikjarazzjoni dwar Deroga għall-Kontroll tal-Għasafar fl-Interess tas-Sigurtà tal-Ajru).

LN 100/2019: Protection of Wild Rabbit (Amendment) Regulations, 2019

LN 269/2019: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019

LN 270/2019: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2019 Live-capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2019

LN 139/2020: Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail (Amendment) Regulations, 2020

LN 140/2020: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2020 Spring Hunting Season for Quail) Regulations, 2020

LN 367/2020: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment) Regulations, 2020

LN 376/2020: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2020 Live-capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2020

LN 399/2020: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Research Derogation To Determine Malta’s Reference Population of Seven Finch Species) Regulations, 2020

LN 400/2020: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation Allowing a Research Period to determine Malta’s Reference Population of Seven Finch Species) Regulations, 2020

LN 134/2021: Majjistral Nature and History Park Site (Amendment) Regulations, 2021

LN 163/2021: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2021 Spring Hunting Season for Quail) Regulations, 2021.

LN 218/2021: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Derogation for the Control of Sturnus Vulgaris and Columba livia) Regulations, 2021

LN 341/2021: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of the Autumn Hunting Season for Turtle Dove) Regulations, 2021.

LN 394/2021: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation to Carry out Scientific Research on Seven Finch Species) Regulations, 2021

LN 395/2021: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation Allowing Scientific Research on Seven Finch Species) Regulations, 2021

LN 396/2021: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2021 Live-capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2021

LN 85/2022: Protection of Wild Rabbit (Amendment) Regulations, 2022

LN 86/2022: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment) Regulations, 2022

LN 107/2022: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment No. 2) Regulations, 2022

LN 116/2022: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2022 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail) Regulations, 2022

LN 240/2022: Il-Ponta tal-Qawra Nature Reserve Regulations, 2022

LN 255/2022: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment No. 3) Regulations, 2022

LN 256/2022: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation to Carry out Scientific Research on Seven Finch Species) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022

LN 257/2022: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation Allowing Scientific Research on Seven Finch Species in Autumn 2022) Regulations, 2022

LN 258/2022: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022

LN 259/2022: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2022 Live-capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2022

LN 354/2022: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Derogation for the Control of Sturnus vulgaris and Columba livia) Regulations, 2022

LN 78/2023: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2023 Spring Hunting Season for Quail) Regulations, 2023

LN 87/2023: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2023 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove) Regulations, 2023

LN 150/2023: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment) Regulations, 2023

LN 209/2023: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment No. 2) Regulations, 2023

LN 210/2023: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Derogation for the Control of Sturnus vulgaris and Columba livia) Regulations, 2023

LN 247/2023: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation Allowing Scientific Research on Seven Finch Species in Autumn 2023) Regulations, 2023

LN 248/2023: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2023 Live-capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2023

LN 85/2024: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2024 Spring Hunting Season for Quail) Regulations, 2024

LN 89/2024: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2024 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove) Regulations, 2024

LN 268/2024: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2024 Live-capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2024

LN 270/2024: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation Allowing Scientific Research on Seven Finch Species in Autumn 2024) Regulations, 2024

LN 299/2024: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment) Regulations, 2024

LN 73/2025: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2025 Spring Hunting Season for Quail) Regulations, 2025

LN 74/2025: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2025 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove) Regulations, 2025

LN 251/2025: Conservation of Wild Birds (Amendment) Regulations, 2025

LN 252/2025: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for an Autumn 2025 Live-capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations, 2025

LN 253/2025: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation Allowing Scientific Research on Seven Finch Species in Autumn 2025) Regulations, 2025

Government Notices:

GN 538/2016: Moratorium on future spring hunting of turtle-dove

GN 567/2017: Conservation of Wild Birds Funding Scheme

GN 22/2021: Notification on the closure of the Golden Plover Live-capturing Season, 2020

GN 1270/2021: Closure of the autumn hunting season for Turtle Dove

GN 21/2022: Notification on the closure of the Golden Plover Live-capturing Season, 2021

GN 337/2022: Cessation of Moratorium on Spring Hunting of Turtle Dove

GN 338/2022: Taxonomic identification and tagging of red-breasted merganser and seven finch species with an identification device

GN 27/2023: Lapse and revocation of the Golden Plover live-capturing special licences

GN 1344/2023: Closure of the autumn hunting season for Turtle Dove

GN 05/2024: Lapse and revocation of the Golden Plover live-capturing special licences

GN 1234/2024: Closure of the autumn hunting season for Turtle Dove

GN 12/2025: Lapse and revocation of the Golden Plover live-capturing special licences

GN 71/2026: Lapse and revocation of the Golden Plover live-capturing special licences

Subsidiary Legislation:

SL 549.116: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Derogation for the Control of Sturnus vulgaris and Columba livia) Regulations, 2017.

SL 549.90: Protection of wild rabbit regulations

SL 549.42: Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations

SL 549.44: Flora, Fauna and Natural Habitats Protection Regulations

SL 504.77: Registration of Sites for Taking (Mnasab) Regulations

SL 549.48: Establishment of the Majjistral Nature and History Park Regulations

SL 549.57: Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail Regulations

SL 549.84: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of the Periods for Hunting in Autumn–Winter 2013–2014) Regulations

SL 549.67: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of the Periods for Hunting and Taking for 2011) Regulations

SL 504.105: Conservation of Wild Birds (Culling of Birds) Notice

SL 549.69: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Period for Taking [Song Thrush]) Regulations

SL 549.74: Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover Regulations

SL 549.75: Declaration on a Derogation for a 2012 Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover Regulations

SL 549.88: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2013 Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail) Regulations

SL 549.83: Majjistral Nature and History Park Site Regulations

SL 549.85: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation for the Control of Birds in the interest of Air-Safety) Regulations

SL 549.86: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration of a Derogation for the Control of Sturnus vulgaris) Regulations

SL 549.87: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2013 Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations

SL 549.91: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2014 Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Finches) Regulations

SL 549.92: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation for a 2014 Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Song Thrush and Golden Plover) Regulations

SL 549.93: Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening an Autumn Live-Capturing Season for Finches Regulations

SL 549.106: Conservation of wild birds (Falconry) Regulations

SL 549.137: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Research Derogation to Determine Malta’s Reference Population of Seven Finch Species) Regulations

S.L. 549.145: Conservation of Wild Birds (Framework for Allowing a Derogation to Carry out Scientific Research on Seven Finch Species) Regulations

S.L. 549.146: Conservation of Wild Birds (Declaration on a Derogation Allowing Scientific Research on Seven Finch Species) Regulations

S.L. 549.150: Il-Ponta tal-Qawra Nature Reserve Regulations