Federation for Hunting & Conservation – Malta (FKNK), said in a statement this afternoon that a delegation of top officials from the FKNK, led by its President Mr. Joe Perici Calascione, recently had a meeting with the Prime Minister, Dr. Lawrence Gonzi and the Minister responsible for Tourism, Culture and the Environment, Dr. Mario Demarco.

FKNK said that the meeting focused on hunting and trapping issues particularly on the application of derogation from the “Birds” Directive to open an autumn/winter trapping season.

FKNK reiterated their opinion, as expressed during the Ornis Committee meeting, that such derogation can be applied to permit trapping for the seven finch species.

“The Prime Minister referred to the reasoned opinion that Malta received in relation to the application of past trapping derogations and said that government was considering solely the application of derogation to permit trapping on two species, the golden plover and the song thrush, as recommended by the Ornis Committee,” FKNK said.

FKNK said that “during this meeting other topics were discussed including spring hunting, fixed autumn/winter hunting seasons, CABS and ‘drones’, the Majjistral Park, close-rings for captive bred birds, wild rabbit hunting and trapping, the carnet de chasse and law enforcement. Other matters discussed, which concern the Tourism and Environment Ministry, were Birders’ Tourists and the Natural History Museum Curator.”

At the end of the meeting the FKNK said that it was confirmed that other meetings on a regular basis would ensue between the Ministries and the FKNK to further tackle all issues discussed.

File photograph.

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