Facts and statistics confirm that spring hunting is permissible by the EU and perfectly sustainable as controlled by the strict mechanisms in place through local and European legislation. This was the main theme of a public dialogue held by the referendum YES campaign IVA, Bħala Maltin u Ewropej this morning in Victoria, Gozo.

Speakers Dr Kathleen Grima and Mr Joe Perici Calascione reminded those present that the Ornis Committee, different Maltese Governments and the European Commission accepted the fact that Malta has no satisfactory alternative solution to spring hunting in autumn. Even ‘No’ spokesperson Saviour Balzan, when part of the negotiating team between Malta and the European Commission, declared that the “autumn migration of the turtle dove and quail is insignificant, and that the removal of hunting of these two species in spring would practically mean the removal of hunting in Malta,” the IVA campaign said in a statement.

Another proof that an alternative to spring hunting does not exist is a past recommendation by the Ornis Committee to shorten the autumn hunting season for the turtle dove and the quail, a period when very few turtle doves and quails migrate over Malta and only sighted in only a few specific areas of the Maltese islands.

In fact the European Commission was informed, long before Malta’s membership in the EU that Malta intended to apply derogation to permit the hunting of two species in spring. In fact, in the EU Common Position (CONF-M 110/02) of 27 September 2002, during the official negotiations, it is documented that:

The EU takes note of Malta’s statement that spring is the main hunting season, and that in order to be in line with Article 7 of accession, the hunting regulations will be amended. The EU is also taking note of Malta’s intention to limit spring hunting to the taking of two species by applying derogation under Article 9 of the Directive.

Dr Grima that this is not a campaign for hunters and the public is not being fooled in believing that the abrogative referenda was created for the sole purpose of abolishing hunting in spring and trapping. Mr Perici Calascione said that the general public is aware that this referendum is an dangerous initiative of the local Political Green Party, Alternattiva Demokratika, which is today partnered by BirdLife Malta. The same Political Party that on more than one occasion attacked other recreational activities such as fireworks, Carnival, fishing and others, which Party is now attempting to govern without having ever been elected to Parliament.

 

Persons from all walks of society are joining the ‘YES’ Movement because they believe that Malta has every right to apply derogation like all the rest of the other EU Member States. Moreover, they are doing so because they believe that no Maltese minority interest or recreational activity should be abusively targeted, the IVA campaign said.