The spring hunting season was closed yesterday with immediate effect after the government received reports of yet more illegal hunting of protected species on Wednesday.
Speaking yesterday, Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino explained the decision had been taken after consultations with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
This year’s spring hunting season had opened on 10 April and was scheduled to close on 20 May.
Yesterday’s announcement, and a legal notice published yesterday evening, mean the season has closed
10 days earlier than had been anticipated.
Mr Pullicino, however, did not comment on whether spring hunting would be closed permanently, or whether it would be opened again next year.
“We received a number of reports yesterday, including reports from the police, of shooting on protected bird species ,” Mr Pullicino explained.
“After analysing the reports and holding discussions with the Prime Minister, the decision was taken to close the spring hunting season with immediate effect.
“The spring hunting season had been opened in respect to two species – the turtledove and quail, and no other species. Any hunter shooting protected species is acting irresponsibly and intolerably.”
Contacted yesterday for his reaction to the government’s sudden announcement, Federazzjoni Kaccaturi Nassaba Konservazzjonisti (FKNK) secretary general Lino Farrugia commented, “As an initial reaction, we feel it is very unfair that, because of the actions of a few, the rest have to suffer.
“We are not yet sure whether the government’s move is actually legal, and we are at present checking into the legality of the government’s action.
“It is also very sad that we as FKNK issued a press release strongly condemning illegal hunting, which seems to have been overlooked by the government, which has not consulted us or asked for our advice on the matter.”
Reacting to the government’s decision, BirdLife Malta president Joseph Mangion commented, “We acknowledge this is a departure from the previously entrenched position of the government on spring hunting. This is a very positive decision that will benefit people, Malta’s international image and wild bird conservation both in Malta and abroad.”
Mr Mangion added: “We are pleased to see that the government has realised the error of the course they were pursuing in allowing spring hunting, which is illegal in the rest of the European Union. We sincerely hope that this will be the end of spring hunting and trapping in Malta.”
Although the numbers and types of species involved in the reports of illegal hunting were not qualified or quantified on the spot yesterday by the ministry, it is known that several hundred honey buzzards were seen passing over and landing to roost in Malta on Wednesday.
BirdLife Malta yesterday referred to a “massacre of honey buzzards” that had taken place on Wednesday evening, mainly in the Handaq area and other areas in the south of Malta. The Administrative Law Enforcement unit had been notified immediately.
The spring hunting season had opened controversially on 10 April, in the face of a threat of legal action by the European Commission, which considers Malta to have been in breach of the Birds Directive for the fourth year running.
The government had, when announcing the spring hunting season would be opened this year, introduced a new raft of stiff penalties and fines for hunters found breaking the regulations, but deterrents appeared not to have had the desired effect of curbing illegal hunting on protected species.
The raft of new deterrents carried maximum fines of Lm2,000 and the suspension of firearms and hunting licences for first-time violators. Repeat offenders faced fines of up to Lm4,000 and a two-year prison sentence, plus the permanent revocation of hunting and firearms licences.
Those who had had their licenses revoked and found hunting illegally would face fines of up to Lm6,000 and minimum prison sentences of one year and maximum of two years.