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James Debono
A company set up by prominent members of the hunters’ federation to rear quail in captivity, is blocking public access to the shoreline in il-Munxar, in the south of the island, the Ramblers Association said.
The area, identified in the Structure Plan for its scientific importance, lies between St Thomas Bay in Marsaskala and Xrobb l-Ghagin. The site has been leased to the company Leisure Fieldsports Ltd, which includes among its directors senior members from the hunters’ federation (FKNK) like secretary-general Lino Farrugia, Joseph Perici Calascione, David Debono, and Richard Cilia.
The area is one of outstanding scenic beauty with its characteristic white cliffs.
According to Rene Scicluna, the owner of the Munxar site, 8,000 birds have already been bred and the company intends using the land for organised hunting. He also said that “organised hunting activities” have already been held, but would not elaborate on the nature of these activities. Scicluna is also a director in the new company.
However, FKNK secretary-general Lino Farrugia insists there is no connection between the federation and the new commercial company. He said the release of captive quail is only a small part of the project, which includes landscaping.
The rearing of captive quail would mean hunters would no longer need to shoot at migratory birds to practice their hobby.
Farrugia insisted the breeding of captive quail is only aimed to compliment traditional hunting of wild birds. “We have no intention of dropping hunting in spring for the sake of shooting captive quail. Traditional hunting is here to stay.”
Another company director, Jerome Licari, has denied the company intends to set up a quail farm. Writing in the Sunday Times in February Licari promised that nothing will be carried out in the site which is not in conformity with legislation.
But environmentalists are concerned that if the shooting of captive quail is allowed all year round, it could lead to abuse as hunters could end up shooting at anything within their range.
Farrugia said hunters have no intention of breaking any laws and that the new project will conform to legislation.
A spokesperson for the Ministry for the Environment told MaltaToday that the setting up of a quail farm requires both a MEPA permit and also a Food and Veterinary Regulations Division permit. The Ministry pointed out that present regulations do not distinguish between wild and reared quails and therefore no shooting on reared quail is allowed in the closed season.
The Ministry also confirmed that it is currently engaged in discussions with the new company.
Rene Scicluna, who purchased the property recently, put up a gate to bar access though the gate, which was later removed by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority because he had not applied for a permit.
The only access to the shoreline is through a passage passing through the land leased by Leisure Fieldsports. The new owners are adamant in not allowing access through their private property.
“The Ramblers Association expect that everywhere belongs to them,” a bellicose Farrugia said. He claimed the sea has washed another passageway, which secured access to the shoreline without passing from Scicluna’s land.
But Ramblers Association president Lino Bugeja says that no such path has ever existed and that the only access to the foreshore is through Scicluna’s property. Bugeja’s organisation aims to reclaim all pathways to coastal zones which have been illegally usurped from the public.
“The blocked access has deprived the present generation of ramblers of the unique pleasure of walking in this zone, an experience which I have enjoyed for the last 55 years,” Bugeja said.
Bugeja added that in countries like the UK, ramblers even have the freedom to roam on earmarked areas on private land.
Even if access is secured Bugeja is recoiled by the prospect of walking through a killing field for birds and the risks posed to ramblers, objecting to the use of the area for shooting quail. “This is one of the most tranquil areas in Malta. It should not be exposed to noise pollution.”
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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