‘FKNK wants politicians to make countryside their own’ – BirdLife

Environment NGO BirdLife Malta has reiterated its call for the electorate "to speak out before its too late" on issues impacting the environment.

Publishing its analysis of the impact of the proposals put forward by hunters' federation FKNK, BLM's executive director said that if politicians bend to their demand, "Malta's countryside will become even more of a no-go area for birds and people, we urge voters to speak out before it is too late".

Analysing FKNK's demands, BirdLife concluded that allowing hunting from beaches would pose "an unacceptable risk to the public and could decimate Malta's tourist industry which currently provides 40% of the country's GDP".

BirdLife said that to prevent access to the countryside by foreigners would cause further harm to Malta's image as a tourist destination and could even result in court action at EU level.

"To have another amnesty on embalmed birds would sanction previous illegal activities, putting hunters above the law; allowing derogations that would permit more hunting and trapping would be catastrophic for bird species like finches, resulting in further action against Malta by the EU."

BirdLife said that to allow trapping of turtle dove in spring, skylark and other species that have never been trapped before would exacerbate the proliferation of trapping sites and the degradation of the countryside they cause as well as further entrenching the illegal occupation of public land

"To remove other restrictions, such as the 3pm curfew on hunting during peak migration period in September, would allow more time for illegal hunting to take place resulting in the shooting of more protected species especially honey buzzards and other birds of prey."

 FKNK has also sent a letter to all of its members urging them to talk to election candidates stating that, "In the end remember that your weapon is not the shotgun but your vote."

Reacting, Micklewright said: "FKNK have shown their cards.  They want to gain favours from politicians to make the countryside their playground, making it impossible for others to enjoy. Malta's politicians know this is not in the best interests of the vast majority of Maltese people. Voters need to speak out to give them the courage to reject these demands."