Hunters rail against police confiscation of licences

Hunters federation FKNK has criticised actions by police and the environment directorate at MEPA, for clamping down on hunters apprehended without their special licences, carnet de chasses or identification sash.

It is two days since the spring hunting season has been opened for a limited catch of quail and turtle dove, and hunters have to declare their catch by sending an SMS to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

FKNK secretary-general Lino Farrugia said in a statement that police had seized guns and ammunition and confiscate the special licences from some 15 hunters who were not found not carrying their identification sashes.

“Hunters feel like they are living in a police state… FKNK sees such actions as totally contrary to the various public statements being made, from authorities who are there for prevention rather than condemnation,” Farrugia said.

The FKNK secretary said MEPA and the police were looking for every excuse possible to confiscate hunters’ licenses, even in cases where hunters “would have forgotten their licence at home… it’s behaviour which does not augur well for  the cooperation we need.”

Farrugia said FKNK has appealed to the prime minister for a just solution so that hunters “do not lose out unjustly on 13 days of hunting because of some genuine mistake”.