BirdLife Malta has filed a warrant of prohibitory injunction in Court against the upcoming European turtle-dove spring hunting season, requesting the closure of the season effective immediately.

“We are taking legal action in the Maltese Court to stop the turtle dove season, as the courts have the power and duty to observe the law and directives,” President of BirdLife Malta Darryl Grima said, speaking at a press conference in front of the Law Courts in Valletta.

He added that the Maltese courts must address the Legal Notice, which was published last Saturday, decreeing that the turtle-dove hunting season will commence, saying that it goes against the European Birds Directive, which supersedes any local legislation.

The organisation condemned Ministers who have outwardly spoken about spring hunting on such birds, deeming it as a political move to win votes before the general election.

“The turtle-dove is listed by the Red List of the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and its status is extremely vulnerable. The recommendation is that there is a zero-take on hunting for this bird and from next Autumn season, no country will be able to hunt for the turtle-dove,” the organisation said.

The injunction calls for the immediate suspension of Legal Notice 116 of 2022 which permits this year’s spring hunting season on the Turtle-dove.

BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana said that the decision took into consideration scientific facts and the Maltese government is ignoring such evidence to appease the hunting hobby.

For the government to start such a derogation they must present scientific facts as well, he said. Sultana added that a referendum for the closure of the hunting season is also on the table should the courts fail to do anything about it.

“The courts must acknowledge the breach of the European Union Birds Directive and immediately stop the season,” he said.

Birdlife Malta Head of Conservation Nicholas Barbara said that the declining species is still recognised as vulnerable by the IUCN. “No documents prepared by the FKNK or endorsed by the WBRU will change its status,” he said.

Barbara said that the government is failing to protect the species as well as ignoring the EU experts’ advice which asked for a zero take on the species in 2022.