Hunters accuse BirdLife of scaremongering, lack of scruples

The Federation for Hunting and Conservation - Malta (FKNK) has accused BirdLife representatives on the Ornis Committee of leaking and criticising confidential information about an item that will be at the top of the agenda in Thursday's meeting of the committee.

The item concerns proposals made by the federation primarily for the establishment of the autumn and winter hunting and trapping open seasons. BirdLife representatives, yet again, are attempting to scare the government through fabrications, by stating that the FKNK proposals are in direct violation of Malta's EU Accession Treaty agreement, FKNK said. The federation said it now awaits the reactions of the Ornis Committee chairman with regard to BirdLife representatives' "unscrupulous actions".

It also hopes that the government will seriously consider the integrity of the representatives when appointments to the committee are made. Contrary to BirdLife's claims, the FKNK insisted that its proposals are not in conflict with EU directives and regulations. The proposals genuinely reflect what is adequate for local conditions and what the Maltese hunters and trappers are now deserving of, following the unjust and unfair hardship they have had to endure in recent years.

The Maltese government should decisively stand up to BirdLife's bullying, and have the political backbone to legislate as necessary. It should not be afraid to exercise its right as an EU Member State and apply any derogations from the EU Birds Directive since these are essential for the good of the Maltese citizens, the federation maintained.

On Saturday, BirdLife revealed that hunters were seeking an extension to the season for hunting at sea coinciding with the spring migration of ducks, for their boats not to be constrained by a speed limit, and for the continuation of trapping in 2009, as well as the trapping of five new species in autumn.