1 comment.Stepping up the fight against bird-related crime, says Ministry for Agriculture
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Roderick Galdes, the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, said that he welcomes this week’s judgement against the smuggling of a large consignment of live protected birds from Sicily.
The consignment, which was hidden in a refrigerator van, consisted of 551 specimens of several species of finches which are protected under national and EU legislation.
The case was disclosed and prosecuted as a result of joint operation by Customs, the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit of the Malta Police Force and the Specialist Enforcement Branch of the Wild Birds Regulation Unit.
Magistrate Anthony Vella ordered a fine of €4,600 and confiscation of the van.
The Secretariat said that in line with the Government’s zero-tolerance policy for infringements, illegalities of this nature will not be tolerated. The Secretariat said that the fight against illegal killing, trapping and trade in wild birds is being stepped up, and the recent increase in enforcement presence in the field, the doubling of penalties for bird-related crime, and the number of significant cases disclosed over the past weeks are a testimony to Government’s seriousness and resolve to combat such crime.
A working group consisting of the representatives of key stakeholders including Birdlife Malta, the FKNK, the Police, MEPA and the Wild Birds Regulation Unit has been formed to develop a national strategy for the eradication of illegal killing, trapping and trade in wild birds.
What drivel. The offenders should have had the fine, the confiscation nd a custodial sentence. If they can afford to go to such lengths the fine and confiscation of the van is trivial. Are they to be named and shamed? I doubt it. Roderick Galdes and the courts are sending out the wrong message. It wouldn’t be anything to do with the power the hunters organisations have over the government, would it? I’m disgusted.