BirdLife Malta yesterday demanded that Environment and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino puts an immediate end to spring hunting in light of “undeniable proof that the practice is in breach of the EU Birds Directive”.

In a letter sent to Mr Pullicino, BirdLife has questioned the government’s reaction to the announcement that the EU is to initiate infringement proceedings against Malta for violating the Birds Directive by continuing to allow spring hunting without providing any suitable justification to do so.

While the organisation stressed now is the time for Mr Pullicino “to do his duty and protect the environment rather than those who abuse it”, the government, on its part, has pledged to fight the EU on the issue tooth and nail in all legal fora.

BirdLife Malta president Joseph Mangion questioned: “Who in our government is going to account for the thousands of Maltese liri that might have to be paid by the Maltese public for the illegal hunting [through possible EU fines? Why does our government insist on ignoring the fact that a majority of the Maltese public is actually in favour of a total ban on hunting?

“Why do the Maltese authorities stand up with such impunity for hunters and state that it will defend them in ‘all legal fora’ and why do you, as our minister for environment, defend the interests of a weak hunting lobby that destroys and impoverishes our natural heritage at the expense of the Maltese people?”

The organisation also called on the government to make public its plans for removing illegal hunting structures “that have taken over the countryside denying the Maltese public access to an already limited resource”.

The European Commission is in the process of formulating a warning letter for Malta over what it has deemed as a breach of the Birds Directive, in that Malta still allows the spring hunting of quail and turtledoves.

Turtledoves and quail are among the most popular game birds hunted in Malta and the problem stems from the fact that the migratory birds return from Africa to their breeding grounds in Europe in spring. The Commission is expected to be pushing for a relocation of the hunting period to autumn.

Malta is still the only EU member state that allows any kind of hunting in spring and does so by utilising provision in the Birds Directive that allows for the hunting of only two species – provided that certain regulations are adhered to and on the condition that a member state justifies its stance with the EC on a yearly basis.

Malta’s justification report submitted in November of last year, however, fell short of providing a suitable explanation as to why the derogation should be extended in Malta’s favour. Malta has contended that autumn hunting, as opposed to spring hunting, provides for limited hunting opportunities – an assessment the EC clearly does not agree with and is intent on challenging following significant outcry from the European public on Malta’s hunting practices and a recent visit by the EU’s petitions committee to look into the matter.