Finally, some action on Maltese Spring Hunting (1 Viewer)

Hopefully it would be stopped in time by the commission:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080130/local/brussels-insists-on-immediate-action

Good news - but will the available punishments be sufficient to stiffen the spines of the Maltese authorities to actually make them take action? And what if they ban it only to turn a blind eye in practice? Let's hope that the majority of Maltese population who want this mess sorted out back tough measures,

John

I think that politicially, the Maltese government is now cornered by the EU Commission. Elections are coming in March/April and hunting has always been a politically sensitive area that no party wants to deal with.

Thankfully, with EU pressure, at least, hunters cannot hunt 'legally' in spring anymore. It is then always up to the powers that be, to do the actual monitoring, but the difference now is, that if you are a hunter walking around the countryside with just a gun in your hands, then you are breaking the law already.

I believe that Birdlife Malta is also holding a Spring Watch 2008: http://www.birdlifemalta.org/conservation/other_projects/springwatch/
the intention of this is to monitor the countryside during migration.

Finally, if you have sometime, the largest newspaper on the island is holding a poll about hunting again, http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/index , (bottom-left of page), so please do vote.

Thank you