The choice of the Tuscany Region
The Resolution for the levy in derogation of the Storno species. Specifically, the Resolution establishes:
to authorize, in accordance with articles 37 bis and following of regional law 3/1994 and for the reasons set out in the introduction, the taking of the starling species (Sturnus vulgaris) in derogation from stalking pursuant to directive 2009/147/EC, art. 9, paragraph 1, letter a) in order to prevent serious damage to local agricultural crops, throughout the region in the presence of crops and agricultural activities as indicated in point 2, on the days of early opening of hunting authorized by the Regional Council and in the period between 17 September 2023 and 17 December 2023 inclusive;
to establish that the withdrawal in derogation of the starling (Sturnus vulgaris) must be carried out in the following ways:
a) in vineyards, olive groves and orchards, as well as in their vicinity for a radius of 100 metres, sampling is permitted even in the presence of scattered vegetation nuclei (at least two plants) as long as they are in the open ground;
b) in the presence of hanging fruit and in lands where bloodless dissuasive systems are in place to protect the crops;
Number of heads
to set at 20.000 the total number of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) that can be collected in Tuscany in 2023 in implementation of this provision;
to establish, in order to monitor the sampling limits for the starling species (Sturnus vulgaris) and order the possible early suspension of the sampling, that hunters who intend to carry out hunting in derogation on the species must compulsorily register and use the regional hunting card digital (Toscaccia application) for annotating blasted animals;
to allow the starling (Sturnus vulgaris) to be taken from ambush exclusively by hunters resident in Tuscany for a maximum of twenty total heads per day and one hundred total heads per hunter for the entire period (September 1st - December 17th 2023) with the use shotgun with smooth bore up to two shots or semi-automatic repeater, with magazine containing no more than two cartridges of no more than twelve calibre;
not to allow the use of lures of the reference species;
to ban the sale of captured starlings (Sturnus vulgaris);
to establish that all collected animals must be marked immediately after recovery in the appropriate section dedicated to withdrawals in derogation of the digital regional hunting card (Toscaccia app);
to proceed with the reporting of the withdrawals made in application of this provision within the terms established by current legislation;
to identify the competent structure of the Regional Council as the authority empowered to declare that the conditions envisaged by article 9, paragraph 2, of directive 2009/147/EC are met;
to acknowledge that the supervision of the application of the provisions of this resolution is entrusted to the guards referred to in article 51 of regional law 3/94;
Additional Provisions
It also establishes:
to acknowledge that the implementation of the interventions will take place in compliance with the procedures referred to in article 19 bis of law 157/1992;
that failure to comply with this resolution will be sanctioned pursuant to art. 58 lett. q) Regional Law 3/94;
to establish that the Region, in compliance with the precautionary principle, taking into account the possibility of delays or errors in the transmission of data through the digital hunting card, upon reaching 19.500 slaughtered animals, provides for the suspension of the levy. Any suspension of sampling will be reported via the Toscaccia APP (digital hunting card) or systems connected to it (source: FIDC-Uct).