Be the first to comment!Legal hunting best deterrent against illegal shooting – FKNK
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The FKNK said in a statement that “it is now evidently clear that legal hunting, and therefore genuine hunters’ presence in Malta’s countryside, is the best deterrent against illegal shooting of protected bird species.”
“BirdLife Malta (BLM) accompanied by groups made up of foreigners, who at present are roaming the Maltese countryside surveying hunters, have so far only reported illegal shooting on two occasions. A day prior to the opening of this spring hunting season and last Sunday, when hunting was nor permitted. The security services company that has been commissioned by the Federation for Hunting & Conservation, Malta (FKNK) to monitor some of the BLM groups, is also carrying out such monitoring only during the hours of the open season,” FKNK said.
The FKNK went on to say that it is in the meantime investigating the BLM reports and if anyone is found guilty of illegally shooting protected bird species and if the person happens to be an FKNK member, his/her membership will be immediately suspended and if eventually convicted in Court the membership will be revoked.
The FKNK statement said “it warns that it will not permit any criminal who persists with illegal shooting of protected species, to undermine genuine hunters’ rights to yet again practice their traditional socio-cultural passion of turtle dove and quail spring hunting by application of a correct derogation. The same genuine hunters who this year have paid over €280,000 to ensure strict enforcement by the Police corps during this spring season.”
Although the FKNK said it is aware that the EU Commission expects and respects the derogation application report from the Member State, the FKNK said it “will also send a report to the Commission regarding the application of the derogation this spring, which report will also include any verified incident of illegal shooting and any actions of the FKNK thereof. It is also envisaged that FKNK’s report will include some activities of BLM’s foreign groups, and also other activities that may occur by BLM’s German partners CABS, which latter groups are expected to arrive in Malta later this week.”
The FKNK concluded by saying that “it should be pointed out, that both foreign groups are this time round surveying hunters, who are practising their passions in a perfectly legal manner.”
