The spring hunting season will open between the 10 and 30 April if the government approves the recommendation put forward by the Ornis committee.

An FKNK statement revealed on Wednesday that the committee had voted in favour of recommending the opening of the season – but that for another year turtle dove will not be allowed to be hunted.

The statement reads that the Ornis chairman, two government representatives, and the FKNK voted in favour of opening the season.

BirdLife Malta’s representative voted against the opening of the season, while the representative of the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and another government representative abstained from the final vote.

However, the FKNK lamented that Maltese authorities seem to be ignoring that a ‘satisfactory’ solution is yet to be found for the ‘socio-cultural tradition’ of hunting turtle dove.

The FKNK had proposed for a 13 day season for turtle dove between 17 and 30 April, but the Committee voted against – with FKNK and a government representative voting in favour, BirdLife Malta and two government representatives voting against, and the Chairman and the ERA abstaining.