[WATCH] Scientific evidence supports ‘no’ vote on spring hunting – SHout

Scientific evidence supports ‘no’ vote on spring hunting

The Spring Hunting Out (SHout) campaign addressed the press in Floriana today, welcoming the publication of scientific evidence which provides support for a ‘no’ vote to end spring hunting.

The evidence comes from official reports released by the government, confirming that both quail and turtle dove numbers are at an all time low across Europe and showing that the numbers of quail migrating over Malta are actually higher in autumn than in spring, negating two common arguments for allowing spring hunting.

The official report compiled by the Wild Birds Regulation Unit on the conservation status of quail and turtle dove confirms gives the most recent data on the two species; showing that turtle dove have even declined again in recent years. A decrease of a further 3% since 2012 brings the total reduction in their European population to 77% since 1980.

Mark Sultana, SHout campaign spokesperson said, “This report confirms that both quail and turtle dove are in decline across Europe, with their numbers at an all time low. It therefore doesn’t make sense to shoot them in spring when they are on their way to breed, as their numbers don’t get a chance to recover”.

Mark added, “Malta is the only country in Europe to shoot migrating turtle dove and quail on their way to breed. Official scientific reports now make it clear, these species are in trouble across Europe and we need to give them a chance. There is no justification for spring hunting.”

A second report, with the results of a government commissioned study on the migration of turtle dove and quail during the autumn 2014 hunting season, was published on 2 March. One of the arguments for spring shooting is that hunters claim not enough of the birds pass over Malta in autumn for them to shoot, however the independent study shows that more quail actually migrate through Malta during the autumn season than in spring.

Mark Sultana, said that “this scientific study concludes that the numbers of quail flying over Malta during the autumn hunting season are actually higher than in spring, completely undermining one of the hunters’ arguments for a spring hunting season.”

The report concluded that 45,683 quail and 7,956 turtle dove migrated over Malta during September and October 2014, during an autumn hunting season.  In spring, hunters are allowed to shoot a total of 16,000 of both species combined because they have argued that they do not have enough birds to shoot in autumn. 

The SHout campaign were speaking ahead of a meeting of the Ornis Committee, the government’s advisory committee on birds and hunting. The committee are expected to make a decision this afternoon on whether to approve the principle of opening a spring hunting season this year.  The committee are under intense pressure from the pro-hunting lobby, and are expected to approve the opening of a spring hunting season.

Mark Sultana concluded by saying “we should all take note of the facts and vote NO on April 11th to bring spring hunting to an end once and for all.”