Majjistral Park Board shoots down request for increased hunting hours

The Supervisory Board to oversee the management of the Majjistral Nature and History Park has confirmed its decision to strongly advise against the increase in the hours when hunting is permitted in the Park.

In its first meeting on Tuesday, the new Board, which was appointed recently by the Government, decided to ratify the decision of the previous Board and “not contemplate or agree to any further encroachments on the uninhibited visiting hours of nature lovers in the Park.”

The decision was carried by an overwhelming majority of 7 to 1, the Board said.

It pointed out that the hunting hours were originally laid down in the Park’s regulations by Legal Notice 217 of 2013. These had been limited to 9.00am, with hunters in possession of firearms having to physically leave the Park by 9.30am.

The Board explained that the decision was based upon the need to allow the large number of school trips and other visits to the Park to take place uninterrupted after such hours, to provide school children and others with a full experience of nature and history.

“Therefore there was a compromise to accommodate the young, local nature lovers and the growing number of foreign visitors to our islands in search of nature and their outstanding coastal areas.”

However, the Board noted that these hunting hours had then been increased to 10.00am, by virtue of Legal Notice 181 of 2014, amending the original regulations, pushing school visits back one hour.

“Under these circumstances the new Board confirmed its commitment to stick to the current arrangement which has been a sustainable solution for all stakeholders, as, the Board said, “it allows a full and pleasurable experience to nature lovers and students while permitting hunting in the earlier hours of the morning.”

The Park is managed by the Heritage Parks Federation, made up of Din l-Art Helwa, Gaia Foundation and Nature Trust Malta.

The Supervisory Government Board is composed of 8 members, 3 representing these three NGO’s, 3 representing Government, one representing the Mellieha Local Council, and a Chairperson.