Tenfold increase in penalties against shooting, trapping protected birds

In what it described a “hideous act”, the government has condemned yesterday’s shooting of a flock of white storks by hunters. The government has now ordered an investigation into the incident, calling for perpetrators to be brought to justice.

In a statement, the government remarked that last year it had revamped national legislation and doubled applicable penalties for illegal shooting of protected birds.

“Whilst, as amply documented in the enforcement report published last Saturday, multiple improvements in enforcement occurred over the past few months, the latest incident shows that some rogue individuals are still undeterred from committing such brazen crimes”, parliamentary secretary for animal rights Roderick Galdes said.

“We will do whatever is necessary to bring perpetrators to justice and eliminate the very possibility of such acts occurring in the future.”

 In the next few days, the Government shall publish further amendments to the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations (S.L.504.71).

These amendments will include a provision that any shooting or trapping for protected species listed in Schedules I and IX of these Regulations, even in the case of a first time offence, will automatically incur penalty comprising of €5,000 fine, and / or imprisonment for one year, as well as permanent revocation of license and confiscation of corpus delicti.

In case of second or subsequent offence, the applicable penalty will go up to €10,000, confiscation, and / or imprisonment for two years.

These measures represent a tenfold increase in the presently applicable minimum fine for first time and subsequent offences, whilst permanent revocation of license, and imprisonment, which, at present, only apply to repeat offenders, will also apply in the case of a first time offence in such cases.

“The message is clear and simple: any targeting birds listed in Schedules I and IX is not tolerated. Perpetrators can run, but they will not be able to hide for long, as the entire legal hunting and trapping community will stand behind the Government on our measures. These criminals will be condemned and rejected and will not find refuge amongst the law-abiding community,” Galdes said.

He said government was taking steps to increase field surveillance. Amongst other measures, the Police shall be deploying the recently acquired specialised unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle, which will greatly increase anti-poaching monitoring capabilities.

The Government is also considering deployment of wardens and plain-clothes surveillance of the countryside in addition to routine uniformed patrols.

Preparations are underway to establish a specialised training course for enforcement personnel. Once established, this training course will result in a core group of officers being professionally trained in disciplines related to wildlife crime surveillance and prevention.

These officers will subsequently form the core of the proposed Wildlife Crime Investigation Unit which will be set up within the Malta Police Force.

In a reaction, hunters association Kaccaturi San Ubertu (KSU) unreservedly condemned the shooting of the birds. It also commended government’s intention of increasing surveillance and the existing penalties for crimes against protected species tenfold.

“It is certainly in the interest of legal hunting that the perpetrators of such crime be given the maximum penalties permitted by law,” KSU said.

“It is nothing short of shameful that in full knowledge of the consequences of their actions, certain irresponsible gun owners who have no interest in preserving legal hunting and care no less about rules or regulations persist in persecuting protected species.”

KUS said it was common knowledge that this small minority blatantly disregarded closed hunting seasons and would benefit from a ban on spring hunting since their evasiveness of the law would be made simpler.

KSU augured that the envisaged introduction of a wildlife crime unit within the police force be fast tracked and that the introduction of harsher penalties coupled with appropriate court sentencing will eradicate the persistent small element of abuse that only serves to discredit all law abiding hunters.

“Whilst commending the forces of law and legal hunters for their firm commitment towards eradicating abuse, KSU call on their members, other hunters and members of the public to report any illegal incidents related to the persecution of protected birds to the police on 112, 119 or the ALE on 2294 2161 / 62 / 63,” it said.