MEP Dr John Attard Montalto recently intervened in seminar organised in Strasbourg by the Intergroup in the European Parliament for Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity and Countryside.
He spoke about hunting in the Mediterranean with special emphasis on the negative report prepared by a representative of the European Parliament.
The seminar was also addressed by the former Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Forestry of the Federal Republic of Germany J. Borchert, MP, president of Deutcher Jagschutzerband and Mr. T. Hoggarh who represented FACE,
Dr Attard Montalto said that the whole issue related to hunting in Malta was being misunderstood. The spotlight is on the Maltese archipelago when there are many other similar and even worse situations both to the east and west of Malta where migration of birds is much more intense.
In principle he said that he disagreed with the present Bird Directive because it is standard for activities ranging from the Baltic to the Mediterranean when in reality the situation is not one which is the same. It is not logical to apply the same regulations to Scandinavia and Malta because of the inherent differences. Derogations try to remedy anomalies but these are then subject to constant wrangling between those in favour or against, he said.
"It is evident that one of the problems is that generally speaking people living in urban areas are more numerous than those in rural or urbanized-rural areas and this may explain the divide between different lobbies."
On the other hand the key to an equitable solution is education. Children whose parents pertain to the different lobby groups will only perpetrate the problem when they grow up. The issue devolves on sustainability and what is and what is not legitimate game. We will not see the results next season or next year, but perhaps a generation from now as first of all we have to teach the teachers.
He said the government had an obligation to introduce the concept of wildlife management, aforestation projects on a much grander scale than presently accomplished and nature conservation.
"It is only through alliances of societies representing responsible hunting, conservationists, farmers and environmentalists that an equitable solution may be found. Banning this or that activity will not work. It is striving to achieve responsibility and sustainability in a particular activity which can work and this is what we should aim for. It is wrong to give labels to lobbies. At the moment the hunting lobby in Malta is being painted in negative colours. This is not the way forward. Indeed, this will only lead to further confrontation when what is required is coordination and understanding," he said.
At the conclusion of the seminar it was announced that on the agenda for future seminars would be Hunting in the Mediterranean.