Opening season for trapping rests on government’s good will – FKNK

The FKNK has appealed to government to open the season for trapping immediately, and “relieve the confusion and suffering endured by thousands of Maltese and Gozitan trappers.”

The hunters’ federation FKNK is insisting that government can open the hunting season for trappers, after this year’s autumn season was opened only for shooting a restricted number of huntable species.

“Opening of a live-capturing season for huntable species depends solely on government’s good will,” FKNK secretary-general Lino Farrugia said. “We carry full responsibility of this statement after participating at an urgent Malta Ornis Committee meeting held yesterday specifically to discuss this season.”
On 15 June 2011, the Ornis Committee made its recommendations to government to open the season for the “live capture” of turtle doves, quails, golden plovers and song thrushes. The Office of the Prime Minister however asked Ornis for more scientific data to justify opening the season to trappers.

The FKNK said that Ornis has decided to complete this study, but that it had “already supplied government with the necessary tools and studies for it to open live-capturing seasons for these otherwise perfectly legal huntable species as it has done every year.”