The Ministry for Gozo has announced that once again, the hunting season for Turtle dove and quail will reopen on on the 13th of April, said ADPD-The Green Party spokesperson Mark Zerafa. ”The authorities have once again bowed their heads to the demands of the hunters’ lobby while neglecting the common interest and the well-being of our fauna and ecosystems.”
Zerafa stated that, ”scientific figures presented by Birdlife Malta which clearly show that quail and Turtle dove are vulnerable species, have been ignored on the pretext that more scrutiny of scientific research is needed at a European level.”
”Scandalously, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has refrained from taking a clear position in favour of the ecosystem it is tasked with protecting, and has abstained from voting against the opening of the hunting season. If not an excuse for scientific research as in the case of trapping, they have created another excuse to get their way and please the hunters,” he said.
He pointed out that normally, no more than a fixed quota of birds can be caught during the season, and hunters are obliged to report their catch. However, it does not appear that any mechanism will be put in place to verify what is reported by the hunters themselves. There are also no effective safeguards in place to ensure the protection of protected species.”
Zerafa stressed that ”the opening of the hunting season goes against our international obligations, European laws and ultimately against our interests and the natural environment of Malta.”
ADPD – The Green Party concluded by stressing that ”as a country, instead of acting alone, we should work hand in hand with our colleagues across Europe to protect the natural heritage that belongs to us all.”
File photo: BirdLife Malta