The Rural Affairs and the Environment Ministry yesterday issued a new legal notice regulating the practices of hunting and trapping.
Legal notice 39/2007 lays down amendments to a legal notice issued last year. These were agreed upon by the Cabinet of Ministers following a number of technical meetings between ministry officials and representatives from BirdLife Malta and the federation of hunters, trappers and conservationists (FKNK).
The amendments are mainly intended as a deterrent to abusive hunting, to introduce new provisions on prohibited sites and to clear some anomalies in the existing regulations.
In a statement issued yesterday, the ministry said that although the harsher punishments proposed were submitted by BirdLife, hunters who abide by the rules should also welcome the amendments.
The new legal notice stipulates that those found guilty of relapsing could have their hunters’ licence and their licence to carry a firearm revoked permanently.
Furthermore, LN 39/2007 states that the court may also confiscate firearms, that severe offences will be punishable by a fine of up to Lm6,000 and that jail terms may be given of up to two years.
Another important amendment, which was proposed by BirdLife and agreed upon by the Cabinet of Ministers, stipulates that nobody may carry a firearm in an area up to 50 metres away from public beaches.
This amendment complements existing regulations regarding carrying and using a firearm in other areas, including on beaches that are 50 metres away from the main road, or 200 metres away from an urban area.
Since beaches are not defined in Maltese law, the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry has listed beaches that will be included in this regulation.
These are Paradise Bay, Armier Bay, Anchor Bay, Golden Bay, Ghajn Tuffieha and Gnejna. Beaches in Gozo where carrying or using a firearm is prohibited are Ramla l-Hamra, San Blas, ix-Xatt l-Ahmar, Mgarr ix-Xini and Xlendi Bay.
The Cabinet of Ministers also approved some amendments following proposals by FKNK, including a change in the size of lead and a more defined classification regarding the hunting of birds from land or sea.
Another amendment provides that only four weeks must pass between recommendations given by the Ornis committee and the beginning of the open season. The committee has suggested that the season for the hunting of quail starts on 1 April and finishes on 10 May, while that for turtledoves opens on 10 April and ends on 20 May.
In its statement, the ministry said that while the government issued these amendments to respect its electoral mandate, they are also aimed at ensuring that everyone respects the law and that the practice of hunting and trapping takes place within legally-permissible parameters.