BirdLife Malta has rejected a statement given to the Times of Malta by Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) President Lucas Micallef, who denied that the proposal to reduce fines and penalties includes those for hunters shooting down protected birds.

In a statement, BirdLife Malta said that ”the proposal, in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, clearly included reducing the fine for illegally shooting a protected bird from €5,000 to €3,000 for a first offence and from €10,000 to €6,000 for a second or subsequent offence. They are also proposing a reduction in fines for those who hunt without a licence.”

BirdLife Malta said that it was the only organisation that showed its clear objection to these proposed changes. ”Neither of the two FKNK representatives nor ERA showed any form of objection.”

The organisation stated that ”following BirdLife Malta’s two-week campaign insisting that these changes should be dismissed, neither the FKNK nor the Government opted to comment, making it even more evident that the facts stated by BirdLife are real, as witnessed by the screenshot shared, which was part of the presentation. Schedules I and IX of the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations list species that are subject to special protection, including storks, herons, birds of prey and other wild birds.””

BLM stressed that this is important in light of the claim that the proposed changes concern only “minor” or “technical” offences. ”FKNK’s Micallef is trying to play down the truth in order to get what they have always wanted for their members who break the law.”

”In the state of illegal hunting in Malta and Gozo, it is rich coming from Mr Micallef to state that our claims are unfair. Their silence when people walking in the countryside, or biking and recently even swimming, were hit by shotgun pellets or harassed by hunters is the unfairness, as much as killing protected birds that are for everyone to enjoy. While they repeat their zero-tolerance stance on illegal hunting, they want to reduce fines and penalties while those breaking the law remain their members year after year,” stated BirdLife Malta.

BirdLife Malta reiterated that the proposals presented to ORNIS, and that were clearly discussed with the lobby way back during the election campaign, as stated by Micallef himself, ”included reduced penalties for the illegal killing of protected birds, including species such as the Black Stork.”

The organisation concluded by saying that ”we hope that our arguments have convinced the FKNK representatives to now oppose these changes, but more importantly, we hope that Government will reject any reduction in penalties for those who shoot protected birds. Protected birds continue to be illegally killed in Malta. Weakening the penalties for these offences would send the wrong message at a time when stronger enforcement and effective deterrence are needed.”

Photos: Presentation cover explaining the proposed amendments to hunting and trapping penalties, presented by Dr Arthur Azzopardi to the ORNIS Committee; and Proposed amendments showing reduced penalties for hunting or trapping protected birds listed under Schedules I and IX, including storks, herons, birds of prey and other protected wild birds

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