Hunters' federation presses government for decisions

The hunters' federation yesterday called on the government to keep its promises and exercise a strong political will to restore "traditional" hunting and trapping in the Maltese Islands.

It said this would give back a way of life that was so unjustly stolen from Maltese hunters and trappers.

The decision to open the spring hunting season and allow trapping is primarily that of the government, according to the hunters' federation, FKNK.

With spring in the air, the federation yesterday issued a statement to highlight the situation and the decisions it felt were due. It said it was looking forward to a meeting with the Prime Minister to clarify these important issues.

The federation said it had already made its recommendations in two reports it had submitted to the committee responsible for making recommendations on hunting and trapping.

It said the first was about hunting and trapping in spring for turtle dove and quail, while the second was about trapping in general.

The federation said the reports were expected to be discussed by the committee in the coming weeks.

It said it had also written to the Prime Minister offering its assistance since it "firmly" believed a satisfactory solution for all had to be found.

Spring hunting was in abeyance last year pending the outcome of a European Court case instituted by the European Commission against the government, which has yet to be concluded.

And, according to the EU Accession Treaty, trapping cannot be held from this year unless a derogation is sought covering a limited range of birds. The derogation would be granted only if certain conditions were met and if justified by the government to the satisfaction of the Commission.