EP advice not to renew Malta derogation

The Petitions Committee of the European Parliament is recommending that the derogation allowing bird hunting in spring will not be renewed for next year.

It is also suggesting that trapping should be completely abolished after 2008.

The recommendations are contained in a report drawn up by the Petitions Committee following a two-day fact finding mission two Malta last month.

A draft of the report was presented to MEPs during a session of the Petitions Committee held yesterday in Brussels. Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil attended the meeting.

In its conclusions, the report says that "it is hard to escape the fact that as a result of this visit, the petition tabled by the Belgian Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and the other petitions received appear to be largely substantiated.

"This does not detract from the fact that the Maltese authorities are gradually, perhaps most reluctantly, beginning to implement European law but there still appears to be substantial evidence drawn from documented reports and observations that illegal hunting of many bird species continues on a widespread basis. This happens in spite of the laudable efforts of the Administrative Law Enforcement section of the Malta Police. They are as yet no match for the hunters." The delegation that visited Malta in the beginning of last month was headed by committee chairman Marcin Libicki. The main reason of the mission was to investigate allegations by foreign anti-hunting organisations on the way the EU Birds Directive is being applied on the island in relation to migratory bird species.

The delegation met stakeholders, including representatives of the hunters' federation, BirdLife and of the Environment Ministry and members of Parliament.

It carried out onsite "surprise" visits to areas known for hunting and trapping.

Referring to a visit to the Ghadira natural reserve, the report states that "from inside the reserve hunters and their vehicles could be seen around the perimeter, overlooking the artificially created wetland area".

The report also describes how in Dingli Cliffs a hunter called Charlie, who nonchalantly stood at his hunting post during the delegation's visit, said that "he had not shot anything all day, but was looking expectantly at a flock of honey buzzards as they glided above. He did not have a carnet de chasse so he could not show us his tally. His licence was at home he said".

The situation of trapping was described in a similar manner.

"In principle, only seven finch species are caught and often sold in the bird market in Valletta as song birds in cages. In practice, it appeared to be unlikely that all trappers are so discriminating. Many birds are injured during trapping and non-finches are not exactly discouraged from taking the bait after the long journeys. It is impossible to be certain that non-finch varieties are liberated from the nets."

Commenting on the current situation and what the delegation witnessed on the ground, the Petitions Committee's report says that the extent of the shooting of even the temporarily authorised species is of such a scale that one must remain very concerned about the real losses for other often endangered migratory species, particularly birds of prey.

"The current derogation should not be renewed. There is too much circumstantial evidence of its abuse. Further derogations would lift the lid on spring hunting in other Mediterranean islands where it is prohibited everywhere and the price would be the likely extinction of many migratory bird species."

Reacting to the presentation of the report, Dr Busuttil said he didn't agree with some of the committee's conclusions and called for a scientific exercise to be conducted before the report is adopted. Dr Busuttil said he is all for the observance of EU laws in Malta, even in the case of the Birds Directive.

The committee decided to postpone the vote until MEPs analyse its contents and present their amendments. Dr Busuttil said he will be proposing some amendments at the next meeting.