AD opposes spring hunting permit

Simon Galea, AD spokesperson for agriculture and animal welfare, said that as a member of the EU, it is Malta's responsibility to abide with its legal obligations.

"Our Prime Minister insists in pleasing the hunting lobby at all costs irrespective of the warning issued by the Commission. Apart from going against the Birds Directive and risking hefty fines imposed by the EU, spring hunting will negatively affect the Turtle Dove and Quail populations on their way to breed. Experience taught us that permitting hunting during this period also results in the indiscriminate slaughter of migratory birds of prey such as Marsh Harriers."
 
Chairperson Michael Briguglio added that it is unacceptable that the Nationalist Government is putting its narrow electoral interests before the environment. "Unfortunately, Labour's approach towards hunting is no different, as both parties do their utmost to serve the hunting lobby. If elected in parliament, AD will give priority to the full conformity to the Birds Directive, thus pushing for the banning of spring hunting.”

Conservationist NGO BirdLife has accused the OPM, under whose responsibility hunting falls, of relaxing future derogations from the spring hunting banin an amendment made by the government to the spring hunting framework legislation.

The amendment was made last Friday following the Letter of Formal Notice issued by the European Commission last October. The legal notice provides a legal framework for the government to introduce hunting for a limited number of bird species according to the Birds' Directive Article 9 - the law governing the derogation from the EU ban on spring hunting.

“The Commission stated that it was concerned that the new framework legislation seeking to permit spring hunting in future years did not comply with the European Court of Justice ruling. It therefore decided, at the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, to issue a Letter of Formal Notice under ongoing infringement proceedings,” BirdLife spokesperson Geoffrey Saliba said.

The Commission also warned Malta that if the necessary actions are not taken by the Maltese authorities, the Commission may decide to take Malta back to Court to request financial penalties.

“Despite this, the amendment made to the framework legislation not only failed to address the concerns raised by the Commission,” Saliba said. “But also further relaxed future spring hunting derogations which the OPM seems to be committed to giving to the hunting lobby.