Call to amend hunting laws

BirdLife Malta yesterday called on the government to apply changes to the hunting and trapping laws as proposed in the Government Gazette published last September.

Although the sea hunting season was closed earlier than usual, BirdLife noted that this was only done as a precaution against the risk of avian influenza.

The proposed changes include the closing of the finch trapping and sea hunting seasons on January 31, a change to the provisions regarding the permitted power of sea craft used for hunting as well as a reference to the transposition of article nine of the Birds Directive.

BirdLife reaffirmed its stand against spring hunting and insisted that the spring hunting season for turtledove and quail is in breach of the Birds Directive. The EU had given Malta a transition period for finch trapping until 2008.

"The procrastination to enact the proposed changes is inexplicable and only serves to create confusion and put Malta in negative light with the EU. Both trappers and hunters are aware of the impending changes and know that these are inevitable," BirdLife said.