Protests and outrage as Malta hunting season opens

04/12/2006 00:00:00 April 2007. On the same day Malta’s spring hunting season for birds begins, bird conservation organisations across Europe have united in protest against the Maltese government for allowing the practice to continue, despite ongoing legal and political action taken by the European Commission.

The European Partnership of BirdLife International -consisting of 42 separate national conservation organisations- have together urged the Maltese Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi to end spring hunting and ‘clamp down’ on poaching. The conservation groups argue that, since joining the EU in 2004, Malta has breached the European Birds Directive by allowing spring hunting of Turtle Dove and Quail. Spring hunting is prohibited by the Birds Directive in order to protect wild birds during their migration from Africa to breeding grounds in Europe.

This is the fourth consecutive breach of the EU law since Malta joined the Union in 2004.
Legal action by the European Commission against Malta began in June 2006, with a European Court case expected to start later this year. On 15 March 2007 the European Parliament adopted a strong resolution calling on Malta to end spring hunting and trapping of birds immediately. Speaking on behalf of the BirdLife European Partnership, Konstantin Kreiser, EU Policy Manager at BirdLife International in Brussels said: ‘Malta is a vital stepping-stone for these birds on their exhausting journey northwards, hence this is not an issue just for Malta – it affects all European nations. Conservationists, citizens, organisations and governments across Europe have invested significant amounts of time and resources in protecting wild birds in their own countries. The fact that the Maltese government allows these birds to be killed during their journey to the breeding grounds is deeply shocking – particularly as this decision ignores the law and all scientific evidence and instead seems heavily influenced by upcoming elections.’

‘The Maltese hunters may not want to live up to their common responsibility as Europeans but the Maltese government should.’ said Kreiser.

Starting today, Malta’s spring hunting season will end on the 20 May. During the hunting period significant numbers of Turtle Dove and Quail will be killed and trapped. Protected species like birds of prey are also known to be killed illegally during the hunting season.