The Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK), said in a statement this afternoon that, “at the last Ornis Committee Malta four-hour long Meeting, where the Spring Hunting Season 2014 derogation was discussed, FKNK proposed that on the Sundays and Public Holidays that fall within the derogated period, hunting should be permitted from two hours before sunrise up to 13:00 hours as is the norm during other hunting open seasons.”

“Following the European Court of Justice (ECJ) verdict in the Case the Commission vs Malta C-76/08 of 10 September 2009, which basically ruled that in the particular case of Malta, limited hunting for only the turtle dove and quail may be permitted in spring by the correct application of derogation, hunting on Sundays and Public Holidays has been banned in spring since 2010,” the FKNK said.

The FKNK said that it based its proposals on the following criteria:

– “neither the “Birds” Directive nor its guardian, the Commission, imposes hunting open season restrictions but it is up to the Member State to decide on the opening periods, days and timings;

– Malta applies less than a handful of derogations when the other EU Member States apply hundreds annually in similar fashions and circumstances;

– due to the uniqueness of the Maltese islands, game is only available to the Maltese hunters and trappers whilst on migration, there being no resident such species. Furthermore, migrating birds do not distinguish between “working” days or public holidays and undertake their journey in accordance with the climatic conditions;

– recreational activities are usually undertaken on Sundays and Public Holidays also because of the available ‘free’ time;

– most hunting is carried out on private owned land;

– the ban is anti-social, and unscientifically based and it thus discriminates against a sector of Maltese society;

– the FKNK will embark on a conservation compensatory measure project for the turtle dove and the quail.

A comparative analysis between the last spring derogation and the one announced yesterday by Government immediately shows that:

– 2 less hunting days are permitted than the period allowed by the framework legislation for the application of spring derogation. Period will commence on the 12th April, instead of on the 10th April;

– this results in no less than an overall 16 hours being reduced from this year’s derogation period;

– for every single day, from Monday to Friday, during the derogation period, there is a further deduction of no less than a whole hour.”

“Notwithstanding,” the FKNK, added, that it “welcomes the fact that Government has favourably considered the gist of its proposals.”

Concluding the FKNK said that it “reminds each person who intends to apply for a special licence, to take careful note of each and every restriction and obligation that is imposed by law during this derogation period.

“Any person caught in breach of the rules and regulations of the Licence for Hunting in spring 2014, will not only be subject to criminal proceedings in accordance with such legislation, but will also be subjected to the Disciplinary Board of the FKNK that will decide on appropriate steps to be taken against any such person who is found guilty, in accordance with the severity of the specific case.”

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