New bird protection laws welcomed

BirdLife Malta has welcomed what it said were "significant" changes to bird protection laws made through a legal notice last week. It said the legal notice marked " a major improvement towards compliance with the EU Birds Directive in Malta".

"After years of lobbying, BirdLife Malta notes that Government has finally accepted that it has been breaching European Community Law and that as a member of the EU Malta has to give its share for the benefit of birds in Europe.

"Unfortunately the change came about only after years of pressure on the authorities and at the impending threat of commencement of infringement proceedings by the EU Commission."

BirdLife Malta and BirdLife International last July lodged a formal complaint about Malta's failure to transpose the Birds Directive in Malta.

The society said the new legislation carries significant text changes that echo the text of the Birds Directive and brings about change both in the composition as well as the duties of the Ornis Committee that will now have to recommend the dates of the hunting seasons to the government.

BirdLife said it was calling for more public support as the fight against spring hunting was not yet over.

"The new legislation does not bring about any changes before May 23, 2006, until which time the government continues to permit hunting and trapping of turtle dove and quail together with finch trapping until April 10," BirdLife said.

"BirdLife contends this is also in breach of the directive and will continue its fight to see an end to hunting and trapping in spring. The Birds Directive forbids hunting of birds on their return migration to the breeding grounds, especially when these species are present and can be hunted in autumn."