BirdLife Malta said in a statement today that it “is seriously concerned by the possible meaning and intentions behind recent public statements by the Labour leader on hunting and trapping, because the language he has used closely reflects that being used by FKNK in their demands to politicians.”

“While Dr Muscat has acknowledged that Malta has obligations under EU law to protect and conserve birds, other wildlife and their habitats, he has failed to answer questions about how a Labour government will deal with the major threat to wild birds in Malta: uncontrolled illegal hunting and trapping,” BLM said.

BLM continued by saying, that instead he has adopted the vocabulary of the hunting lobby, saying that Labour, “want Maltese hunters and trappers to be treated like those in other European states, such as France” and that “Where derogations are applicable, we will apply them.”

Steve Micklewright, BirdLife Malta’s Executive Director said, “these statements obscure the truth that hunters and trappers in Malta enjoy privileges not given to any of their European counterparts and these privileges are prohibited under EU wildlife protection regulations.

“For example, hunters in the Maltese Islands can legally shoot 41 bird species during the five-month autumn hunting season, compared with just 18 wild bird species that can be hunted recreationally during the autumn season in the UK.”

“The Labour leader has made explicit reference to the situation in France, where 64 bird species can be legally hunted and derogations are regularly applied for the trapping of five species, but not finches,” Steve Micklewright stated, “France has an area of 547,030 square kilometers, only two hunters per square kilometer and nearly 300 breeding bird species, compared to Malta’s 316 square kilometers, at least 31 hunters per square kilometer and only 20 regularly breeding bird species.”

He added that since joining the EU, Malta has consistently opened a spring hunting season for European Turtle Dove and Common Quail, in exception to Birds Directive guidance and the European management plans for both these species, which are declining in Europe and are of “unfavourable conservation status.”

Mr Micklewright said, “no other European country has been allowed to open regular spring seasons for the recreational hunting of any bird species, let alone two that are of conservation concern. And while Maltese hunters look enviously at the number of species that can be hunted in France, French hunters are not allowed to shoot Turtle Dove and Quail in spring either.

“Furthermore, in response to questions asked by BirdLife’s Conservation and Policy Officer, Chris Debono, at Friday’s briefing on the party’s electoral manifesto, Dr Muscat said that he did not agree with “gold plating” wildlife protection legislation in Malta “beyond what is required by the EU.”

BLM said that “since 2008, legislation governing autumn hunting has banned shooting after 3pm during the peak of raptor (bird of prey) migration in the second half of September. The ban was adopted to protect birds of prey from being illegally targeted and has resulted in a reduction in the number of birds illegally targeted during peak migration.”

Mr Micklewright added, “the EU encourages countries to go beyond its Directives to take account of the local situation. With 80 per cent of the countryside available to hunters, including several public Nature Parks frequented by walkers, tourists and school groups, it seems unthinkable that the removal of wildlife protection legislation, such as the 3pm curfew on hunting for two weeks in autumn, might be on Labour’s agenda.

“Dr Muscat has stated that there would be ‘no renegotiation of EU Accession Treaty agreements,’ which does suggest that he would stop short of derogating for a finch trapping season, something that trappers have been demanding since 2009, when the five-year phasing-out period agreed as part of Malta’s EU Accession Treaty came to an end.

Mr Micklewright concluded, “with the future of Malta’s wildlife and the Maltese people’s right to enjoy the countryside in safety at stake, it is essential that voters ask questions of their candidates to make sure they know what they might be voting for.”

Visit www.birdlifemalta.org for more information about the ‘Your Voice Counts’ campaign and the issues BirdLife is asking people to discuss with politicians.

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