Cyprus uproar over bird trapping ban

Some villagers say bird-trapping is their livelihood

By Tabitha Morgan BBC correspondent in Nicosia

Thousands of Greek Cypriot villagers have handed in their voting cards in protest at government attempts to stop a lucrative trade in trapping and selling small birds.

Cyprus is a candidate for EU membership and EU legislation says bird trapping is illegal.

Sticks, tape recordings of birds - all these methods are prohibited, not only by the EU but by our law as well

Andreas Panayiotou, Cyprus Interior Minister

But the villagers say its prohibition will mark the end of a traditional activity that goes back to medieval times.

Many are also claiming that they are being deprived of their livelihoods.

The birds - according to conservationists as many as 2 million of them every year - are caught in fine nets suspended from poles or on sticks covered with glue, known as "lime sticks".

The tiny birds - which are considered a great delicacy in Cyprus - are then sold to local restaurants where the custom is for diner's to eat them whole, leaving only the beak behind.

Large flocks of birds fly over Cyprus every year during their biannual migration. Conservationists insist that the trapping has to stop.

They say the methods being used are indiscriminate and threaten the survival of endangered species - in particular the tiny black cap, which sells for up to $8 a piece.

Illegal weapons

Now, with Cyprus a candidate for EU membership the government says it is time to crack down on the practice and enforce existing legislation.

Tourists too flock to the island

Interior Minister Andreas Panayiotou is adamant that the trappers will have to back down.

"There are a lot of birds that they can hunt," he says.

"But using shot guns, not lime sticks, tape recordings of birds - all these methods are prohibited, not only by the EU but by our law as well."

Despite the government's attitude the issue does not appear to be going away - with bird trappers planning a series of protests in the months ahead.

That could be embarrassing to the authorities as they try to show Brussels how successful they have been in preparing for European membership.