No hunting ban this season

The government has decided not to ban hunting for the coming season, a decision met with loud approval by hunters gathered at a press conference by the Federation for Hunting and Conservation yesterday. The health and environment ministries said in a joint statement that they had agreed there was no need for them to suspend the hunting season.

They had been considering such a move in view of concerns about bird flu. They said all factors had been analysed and the decision had been taken in view of the fact that the EU was encouraging member states not to take any "unilateral measures" in the precautions against the spread of bird flu.

To date, they added, Malta had adopted all directives issued by the European Commission, through its scientific committee, which has not yet issued any directive to stop hunting.

In mid-February, the government had suspended the hunting of wildfowl from seacraft.

Hunters at yesterday's press conference, which turned into a rally, had become worked up over the possibility of a ban on spring hunting before being informed well into the meeting that the government had already confirmed the season would open.

Jeers turned to cheers when the hunters crammed into the offices of the FKNK were given the news.

Federation president Lino Farrugia had earlier told them he would not permit the government to blare out the risk of bird flu as an excuse to stop spring hunting.

"We will allow no excuse by the government to stop us from going out hunting. We will not accept any explanation unless it comes from the European Commission and is scientifically proven," he said.

After reading his speech, Mr Farrugia moved on to the joint statement - issued after yesterday's Cabinet meeting - which confirmed that hunting for quail and turtledove would be allowed as usual from Saturday up to May 22.

Mr Farrugia maintained that had it not been for the pressure applied by the FKNK, the government's decision would have been different.

When asked by The Times why the federation had not told the hunters the news at the start of the meeting, members of the FKNK dismissed the question as "out of place".

After giving information about the H5N1 virus, the strain that causes the deadliest form of bird flu, Mr Farrugia urged hunters to pick up all birds they shoot, adding that it would do no harm to wear gloves.

"Those who go out only to kill cannot be called responsible hunters," he said.

However, he admitted that hunters did not always pick up the birds they shot.