Hunting: Striving for a united front

The latest events or non-events on the future of hunting, particularly spring hunting, call for clarification.

If the delegation from the hunting federation (FKNK) came out smiling from the January 18 meeting with the EU Commission in Brussels, why is the FKNK now giving the Environment Minister a hard time? If the minister has declared he will honour his government's commitment on spring shooting, what prevents him from publishing the dates of the open season?

If the spring migration period of the huntable species year-in year-out never changes, what need is there for a yearly decision by the Ornis Committee (OC)? If, prior to EU accession, the government declared turtle-doves and quails the only two game species in spring, and even applied a derogation (as it had every right to do) to allow spring-hunting of these two species, why should BirdLife Malta be involved (through the OC) to determine the open season?

Why should BirdLife be allowed to interfere with the seasonality of two unprotected birds, acknowledged as gamebirds by the Maltese government, and confirmed as such through a derogation, with the acquiesence of the EU at that time? Given that the president of BirdLife Malta recently declared publicly he wishes an end to all hunting, does the Environment Minister seriously think that the FKNK can ever continue sitting on a committee with its sworn enemy?

Does the EU Commission now refuse to accept the validity of the derogation because of unjust, abusive and orchestrated pressure by local and foreign abolitionists?

What action is being taken, jointly or separately, by the minister and the federation to combat the atrocious lie spread by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) about Maltese hunters using birdlime?

I, therefore, urge the Environment Minister to call an urgent meeting with the FKNK to iron out these issues and reach a satisfactory agreement acceptable to both sides.

I urge the FKNK to agree to a meeting. Rather than confrontation, the minister and the hunters' representatives need to cooperate closely, and to work together for the continuing implementation of the spring-hunting derogation.

The Maltese government appears to be abiding by its commitments prior to EU accession, and it seems to be determined to keep applying the derogation come what may. So it needs all the support it can get, especially from the hunters, irrespective of their political colour!