Mark Mifsud Bonnici President of hunters’ group, Kaccaturi San Ubertu, in a statement has referred “to the facts reported in some media following a gathering of young activists supporting the SHout campaign.”

He said “a figure mentioned of 2 to 3 million turtle doves shot in EU States does not include Malta as erroneously stated, it refers to every autumn and does not include the “inconsiderable numbers” quoted by the European Court of Justice for Malta. “

This figure was the basis which determined the sustainability of this species by the same Court that endorsed Malta’s right to derogate during spring, the KSU President stated.

Mark Mifsud Bonnici added that, “also contrary to a statement by one activist there are no “conservation projects to protect Turtle Doves,” other than a private effort in the UK where this bird was always protected species and where numbers are declining due to bad agricultural practices. The status of this species is that of “least concern” as confirmed by the same Court.”

He said that “these young activists also referred to the bird callers as “illegal to use in Malta, yet not illegal to purchase.” Such bird callers are sold to anyone with an interest in birds and are mainly used by bird ringers and bird photographers to attract birds. Their use for hunting is illegal and appropriate penalties are contemplated in our laws.”

With regards the mentioned extinction in America of the Passenger Pigeon in 1914, Kaccaturi San Ubertu pointed out that “this occurred when hunting was not regulated by Directives that ensured hunting sustainability.”

Mark Mifsud Bonnici concluded by saying that “the European Birds Directive is there to ensure a “balance between the protection of species and certain leisure activities.”

“With such misinformation being the norm, SHout intend disrupting this balance when insulting people’s intelligence by depicting a false sense of gloom and doom.”

Permalink: KSU accuse activists of “depicting a false sense of gloom and doom”