Kaccaturi San Ubertu (KSU) has said in a statement that, in view of the perceived decline of Turtle Dove and the subsequent classification of the species as "Vulnerable," it "supports the hunting community's call upon the government to declare a voluntary moratorium on spring hunting of turtle dove."

KSU said that it should remain in force until sustainability of limited spring hunting of this species is scientifically proven.

"This decision follows a call for restrictions on the spring hunting of turtle dove by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as well as by Commissioner Karmenu Vella."

KSU referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) Case C-76/08 on spring hunting in Malt,a whereby the Court noted that as opposed to all other EU states "there is no other satisfactory solution, namely, as in the present case, that there are insufficient hunting opportunities in autumn."

"Bearing this in mind and that the turtle dove is considered as a huntable species in Malta and other EU states, KSU believes that it is essential that the Maltese government should play an active role in addressing the perceived decline of Turtle Dove at EU level."

KSU also called on hunting organisations in other EU countries that hunt turtle dove, to follow suit and appeal to their governments for similar measures to restrict hunting of this species to levels that can be scientifically proven to be sustainable.

KSU emphasised that all threats facing the turtle dove need "urgent remedial action. Though hunting is a minor issue when compared to the main threats resulting from widespread bad agricultural practices and habitat loss."

KSU concluded by saying that it commends the Commission's pledge to "make full use of all its instruments to tackle all relevant causes for this decline."

Photo: Turtle dove drawing by Mark Mifsud Bonnici

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