The Federation for Hunting & Conservation – Malta (FKNK) has said that “following the Letter of Formal Notice from the EU Environment Commissioner questioning the Maltese Government’s correct application of a derogation for the trapping of birds from four huntable species, it took the initiative to request the organization representing European hunting associations (FACE) to offer its assistance to the Maltese Government.”
On behalf of FACE Med, the President, Dr. Giovanni Bana, has sent a letter to Prime Minister, Dr. Lawrence Gonzi. In the letter the FACE President “offered FACE Med’s expert advice for Malta’s application of derogations, in particular the application of a derogation to permit live-bird capturing of huntable species this autumn/winter on the same basis as similar derogations are applied in other EU Mediterranean countries.”
“This letter is meant to assist your government in reaching an optimum situation whereby you will still be legislating within the framework and parameters of the European Directives whilst retaining a practical scenario in the Maltese islands that allows such practices.”
FACE Med said that it “hopes that the content of the letter will assist in clarifying certain aspects of the position of the Government of Malta in applying a derogation for the live capture of huntable bird species as it already occurs in other Member States.”
FACE Med concluded by saying that it “assured Government that it was at Government’s disposal for any further clarification that Government may require in this regard or on any other matter relating to the socio-cultural practices of hunting and trapping more specifically related to Mediterranean countries.”
FACE Med is a Committee within FACE (Federation of Associations for Hunting & Conservation in the EU) which considers and highlights to the main FACE Board those challenges and circumstances that pertain specifically to the Member States of the Mediterranean region, since practices, traditions and cultures differ considerably between Member States. However, the principles of sustainability, wise-use of natural resources, and the need for valid scientific data and appropriate legislation is fundamentally similar.