The Moore-hen
Association of Satirical Birders & Ornitholigists
The spring hunting season has been closed with immediate effect after a number of protected bird species were shot on Wednesday. Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi announced the decision on Thursday afternoon. Hunting for turtle-doves and quail was meant to be permitted between up until the 20th May after it opened on the 10th April.
In a statement the Prime Minister further said that the government had insisted that when the season was opened all hunters were told to observe regulations and that no abuses would be tolerated.
This year’s spring hunting season has been marked with controversy. In March thousands of hunters protested in Valletta, led by the Federation for Hunting and Conservation. During the protest a number of hunters attacked journalists and police officers on site.
The Federation had presented separate letters to the Government and Opposition. The FKNK appealed to the Prime Minister to retain promises made to hunters and trappers prior to the 2003 referendum and election by actuating the amends of a legal notice as agreed by the government, reflecting the Birds’ directive of the European Union. The Federation also called on the Opposition to clarify its stance with regard to hunting and trapping.
When the hunting season opened in April, bird conservation organisations across Europe united in protest against the Maltese government for allowing the practice to continue, despite ongoing legal and political action taken by the European Commission.
Legal action by the European Commission against Malta began in June 2006.
On the 15th March 2007 the European Parliament adopted a strong resolution calling on Malta to end spring hunting and trapping of birds immediately. One week later, the European Commission gave Malta one month to reply to a supplementary warning letter over the island breaching the European Union (EU) Birds Directive. The Commission also widened its legal action which came to cover the permit granted in 2004 when Malta's acceded to the EU and subsequent permits for the following years.
Referring to the supplementary warning letter, the government said it would respond to the Commission’s decisions once they are been communicated.
The government also reiterated that it acted in line with the agreements reached during Malta’s EU accession negotiations, adding that it regretted that the Commission acted as if the subject of hunting was never even discussed during the negotiations.
News taken from MaltaMedia.com
In a statement the Prime Minister further said that the government had insisted that when the season was opened all hunters were told to observe regulations and that no abuses would be tolerated.
This year’s spring hunting season has been marked with controversy. In March thousands of hunters protested in Valletta, led by the Federation for Hunting and Conservation. During the protest a number of hunters attacked journalists and police officers on site.
The Federation had presented separate letters to the Government and Opposition. The FKNK appealed to the Prime Minister to retain promises made to hunters and trappers prior to the 2003 referendum and election by actuating the amends of a legal notice as agreed by the government, reflecting the Birds’ directive of the European Union. The Federation also called on the Opposition to clarify its stance with regard to hunting and trapping.
When the hunting season opened in April, bird conservation organisations across Europe united in protest against the Maltese government for allowing the practice to continue, despite ongoing legal and political action taken by the European Commission.
Legal action by the European Commission against Malta began in June 2006.
On the 15th March 2007 the European Parliament adopted a strong resolution calling on Malta to end spring hunting and trapping of birds immediately. One week later, the European Commission gave Malta one month to reply to a supplementary warning letter over the island breaching the European Union (EU) Birds Directive. The Commission also widened its legal action which came to cover the permit granted in 2004 when Malta's acceded to the EU and subsequent permits for the following years.
Referring to the supplementary warning letter, the government said it would respond to the Commission’s decisions once they are been communicated.
The government also reiterated that it acted in line with the agreements reached during Malta’s EU accession negotiations, adding that it regretted that the Commission acted as if the subject of hunting was never even discussed during the negotiations.
News taken from MaltaMedia.com
