The Federation for Hunting & Conservation – Malta (FKNK) said in a statement that it has accepted Mr Edwin Vella’s membership resignation, following his conviction in Court regarding illegalities connected with hunting.

The FKNK’s Disciplinary Board was in the process of deciding about disciplinary measures that should have been imposed on Mr Vella, however, his resignation has superseded any Board’s decision and the Board is satisfied that no further disciplinary measures are to be imposed, the FKNK said.

“Mr Edwin Vella was a member on one of the 26 district committees within the FKNK. He had already resigned from his position on the committee prior to his resignation from FKNK membership. Short of this, prevents any person from renewing his/her hunting licence.”

The FKNK went on to say, “Mr Vella had legally shot a turtle dove on perfectly legal hunting ground, which bird fell barely six meters over the border of the extensive nature reserve next to his hunting ground. The fact that the shot was taken outside the reserve was also confirmed in Mr Ray Vella’s (BirdLife Malta Reserve Ranger) report filed with the police.

“Mr Edwin Vella retrieved the bird whilst still carrying his gun (unloaded) for fear of leaving the gun ‘unattended’ which is also another illegal act. One must also highlight that on site there are no signs to indicate the reserve boundaries.”

“Mr Vella has unintentionally conducted illegal acts, however ethically he acted as any decent hunter would have. He didn’t let a dead game bird go to waste,” the FKNK concluded.

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