Turtle-dove hunting cannnot open Sunday, Court provisionally accepts injunction

The Court has provisionally accepted BirdLife Malta’s request for an injunction ^[1] on spring hunting for Turtle-dove, meaning that the season cannot now open on Sunday.

BirdLife Malta in a statement on Wednesday, said that it is “very satisfied” to receive the Court notification announcing that it has provisionally accepted a Warrant for Prohibitory Injunction filed earlier this week to stop the spring hunting season on the Vulnerable European Turtle-dove.

A date has been set to hear the case and decide on request for Tuesday, the 19th of April at 9am. This automatically means that the spring hunting season for the Turtle-dove will not open this coming Sunday, the 17th, BirdLife said.

BirdLife Malta President Darryl Grima stated, “we are satisfied that the local Law Courts have understood the urgency on this matter and that they have the responsibility and the power to safeguard the European Directives in our country…

He explained that, “our Law Courts are also European Law Courts with full powers provided to them by the European Union’s Directives themselves. As a Member State we need to abide by EU regulations and directives and the local Law Courts are a way for any citizen and civil society to seek remedy for breaches of the European Directives, including the EU Birds Directive.”

BirdLife Malta said that it will be writing to the Commissioner of Police and the Head of the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU) to ensure that they are aware of is development and that no one can hunt Turtle-doves this spring before the case is decided on Tuesday, and only if the case is lost.

BirdLife Malta waned that “anyone hunting for European Turtle-doves will therefore be breaking the law. WBRU has the responsibility and obligation to inform all hunters about this decision.”

BirdLife Malta thanked its legal team, namely Dr Mark Soler, Dr Claire Bonello and Dr Philip Manduca, “who are all set for Tuesday’s hearing.”

Photo by BirdLife Malta