The Malta Ranger Unit has highlighted that “although Christmas Day meant 24 hours where nature could breathe, today we are back full-on with reports to the left right and centre.”

The MRU said that the video published today “shows the Natura 2000 site at L-Inhawi Tar-Ramla Tat-Torri U Tal-Irdum Tal-Madonna (MT0000009) full of illegal hunting.” The video was filmed 1km away from the coast.

“At the moment the reports for Golden Plover are decreasing, but instead we are overwhelmed with reports about duck hunters illegally using loud callers,” the MRU said. “they can hunt near the coast and they can use decoys.”

It stressed however that “the callers are strictly illegal to use as per S.L. 549.42, since they are deemed to be unsustainable practice and cause harm to biodiversity. They go against the ethos of conservation.”

The Malta Ranger Unit urged the public “to send in video footage to us so that we can act on it, as well as compiling good statistics on how widespread this illegal practice is.”

It warned that “due to loopholes created on the law, together with an undermined enforcement who try their best under the circumstances, the decision-makers have enabled these crimes to continue with nearly full impunity.”

Screenshot and video – MRU

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