Two hunters fined

Two hunters were yesterday fined Lm300 each for being in possession of strictly protected species.

Joseph Darmanin, 34, of Qrendi was arraigned after police officers from the administrative law enforcement unit found him in possession of an electronic bird caller close to Hagar Qim. A search at his house yielded a freshly killed Eleonora's Falcon and a Montagu's harrier as well as a stuffed Flamingo that had not been declared to Mepa.

He was also found in possession of several specimens of protected marine fauna, including four carapaces of loggerhead turtle and several species of protected sea shells.

Apart from the fine, the court ordered the confiscation of the protected specimens and the bird caller.

Michael Cutajar, of Birkirkara, was found guilty of being in possession of a freshly-killed short-eared owl, which is a strictly protected species.

He was also found guilty of relapsing and had his hunting licence suspended for a year.

Mepa environment officer Stanley Gatt was called to identify the specimens.

Police Inspector Alexander Miruzzi prosecuted.