Anthony Formosa, San Gwann
The hunting and trapping promises
Now that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has decided not to permit the hunting season for 2008, please allow me to bring to your attention one of the letters sent to each hunter and trapper individually before the 2003 general election determining Malta's EU entry.
Birdlife Malta and International (BLM) started a misinformation campaign, providing the EU commissioner with extraordinary figures of millions of birds slaughtered to force the commission to set an example to all others by the tiniest member.
While BLM always aimed to ban spring hunting with the excuse that protected birds were being shot, trapping was also banned by the ECJ. The irony is that the Maltese government is spending thousands of euros to defend its case against the ECJ based on the misinformation provided by BLM, even though during EU negotiations, spring hunting on such game birds was accepted BLM.
The sympathy that BLM attracted in recent years is slowly dissipating. A recent article claimed that a number of trees planted in the Foresta 2000 area are already dry and dead, and the rest are in a bad state. BLM must look after this project as the public was the main contributor to this project. Both Birdlife's local and international arms have been working for many years to ban spring hunting, and questions are raised to find the difference between shooting a bird in Europe one month before breeding, or a bird which is migrating during breeding time?
Why are we deprived by the European Commission of our bag of a mere average of five game birds per hunter per season (ECJ report) when 100 per day are accepted abroad just because money is involved? And this takes place in countries which were among the first to criticise us.
The government and Birdlife must shoulder the responsibility of the consequences of the broken promises.
Hunters were promised that such traditions would never be banned after EU accession. Many hunters and trappers suffered financial repercussions, as many spent thousands of euros to buy land and lost business. Also, hunters and trappers paid their licenses for a closed season. We sincerely hope that the government will take a strong stand against this issue, so that justice will prevail.
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Julie Sapiano
May 6th 2008, 21:05
When are you going to learn that so called promises given by the government mean nothing. We are now in Europe and if the EU says there will be no spring hunting, then there will be no spring hunting. Its the price you have to pay, so get over it ! Get a life and go clay pigeon shooting. There may not be millions of birds about, but at least in most of the countryside we can now have the pleasure of hearing different birds singing.
Joe vella
May 4th 2008, 19:27
Godfrey Pisani, what is fair and clear, except to a few hunters, to everyone is that what you called your pastime is that it cannot be sustained if spring hunting is allowed, Period
godfrey pisani
May 4th 2008, 14:56
A very few good words put by anthony and this is the reality of the situation , can any one please tell us were the millions are now and how many tourist are coming because of this and what will the excuse be for trying some kind of winter ban some time later in the next few years , i hope the goverment and the opposition take note of what is happening to our traditions in this country , as it seems everyone is afraid to talk about the truth .i hope that once and for all our legal right to enjoy our passtime as our fellow european hunters be guaranteed by both parties once and for all and what is fair prevails .