Fewer birds shot this spring, say birdwatchers
The majority of hunters are respecting the government's ban on hunting and trapping and fewer birds were shot this year, according to foreign birdwatchers monitoring the situation.
The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (Cabs), a German-based conservation organisation, said it heard 354 gunshots in the nine days it spent on the island compared to last year's 1,350, when hunting was also subject to a ban.
Cabs president Heinz Schwarze said this was a significant decline and clearly showed that most hunters respected the government's ban. But, he added, the few who ignored it still affected the migration of birds in spring.
The committee reported eight men whom they saw shooting at birds or carrying a shotgun. Throughout their stay, the birdwatchers were regularly insulted and numerous attempts were made by hunters to intimidate them, they said.
Last week, a hunter fired a warning shot when they ran after him for shooting down a bird and, shortly afterwards, they were followed by a car. However, the committee said it intended to return in autumn, this time with more birdwatchers.
This is the second consecutive year that spring hunting has been banned. Last year, the European Court of Justice ordered Malta not to allow the opening of the spring hunting season due to the pending court case, which is scheduled to start tomorrow.
Although the ECJ's ban covered just last year, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas had warned the Maltese authorities the Commission would again ask the ECJ to issue urgency measures if Malta decided to open the season.
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Antoine Grima
May 7th 2009, 09:06
So why did BLM , on your newspaper of Monday 6th , ask the government that the illegal hunting situiation is out of control and there is a need for more police to help control the issue ? Are BLM not informed by there partners ? BLM will never know anything unless they are informed by their foreing friends . This just shows that most of the things said by BLM are unfounded and are said just for the sake of saying something and look as if they know what is happening
Kenneth Cassar
May 7th 2009, 06:43
@ Fabian Borg:
It doesn't work like that. If comparatively a few hunters broke the law and hunted in Spring (because Spring hunting is illegal), you do not make Spring hunting legal so that more hunters hunt in Spring. It defeats the purpose of making Spring hunting illegal.
r sammut
May 6th 2009, 20:10
@J Borg
At least CABS were decent enough about their report of their camp in peak season. During the same time you Sir never stopped to bla bla about the alarming figures of poaching! Now that cabs are gone you are back at the front; no risk of friendly fire now!
To talk about poaching at least you Mr Borg need to be out and about, not facing a laptop in you office!
Who is poaching when even migration seems to have fizzled off!
@Stavros Dimas
Are you Sir all eyes on Malta’s hunting matters? W hat about illegal immigrants? Both topics are about migration/immigration! The difference being that: the first being easy to impose your power on our small state, while the other Sir would incur you, to shove all EU members to stick out their necks!
laurence schembri
May 6th 2009, 19:22
What it boils down to is, that no political party has the guts to call a referendum on hunting,
John Matthews
May 6th 2009, 18:24
@ J Borg
Who says that the "illegal hunters" are from within the ranks of FKNK. Only you and a few other people keep up this argument which legally would not stand up anywhere
PUT UP OR SHUT UP is my motto, why can't you do the same.
Still as others have challenged you, you have still not come back with any anwers or fair and just criticism.
Andrew Gatt
May 6th 2009, 17:52
So much for their exaggerations, lies and propaganda! Let's hope CABS will finally amend the blatantly untrue information about Malta on their website.
And how ironic! CABS have no problem shoving their video cameras in hunters' faces, filming people against their will and following individuals in the countryside. That's OK for them.
When someone simply follows them in a car, possibly to see if they will trespass on private land, they cry foul and go running to mummy! And incidentally, this episode happened in Bahrija. This article gives the impression that they were first shot at and then followed.
The "warning shot" incident happened near L-Ahrax.
Fabian Borg
May 6th 2009, 13:56
At least CABS had-the-decency-to-admit-that-few-individuals-broke-the-law-even if it was UNJUST and in conflict with the MALTA/EU common position papers which were fed to the public before the EU Referendum.
Now with this evidence that wrong-doers are a minority will the government stand up for the majority of law abiding ones ?
Law abiders are those who were stolen of their traditional pastime which was part of the way of life. This is worse than any tax, money or fine the government can collect.
Worse are those who were gullable enough to believe the endless list of politicians who mentioned agreements, derogations etc and top of the list are EFA and EU Commision vice president Gunther Verheugen. The PN Hunter voters are in a state of panic as they believed the EU had understood Malta`s position on Hunting and that their practice was accepted.
From the facts occuring it seems it was not. So who is accountable for the misinformation spread before the cricual vote was taken ?
In order to settle matters the government should come to terms with the Hunting Federation, Birdlife and the EU on a reduced Turtle-Dove/Quail Spring Season within the parameters of
derogations we surely are eligible to-use.
CHARLES VELLA
May 6th 2009, 12:10
What are these urgency measures in Malta if decided to open the season .Is this a threat?
I do not want to be arrogant . Why not they take urgency measures on today agenda and take to ECJ WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT . DO NOT waste TIME . COME ON
n xuereb
May 6th 2009, 11:45
I ask Dr. Gonzi to investigate why all and sundry, including CABS say the exact truth, as published here, but BLM keep on twisting facts and exagerating numbers.
J. Borg
May 6th 2009, 11:40
Notwithstanding the CABS watch these last days, some criminal hunters still defied the hunting ban.
Now with -
no CABS watch,
ALE's limited resources (no matter what government has the cheek claims), and,
FKNK's illogical passive stand that it (simply) condemns illegal hunting but shies away from organising similar surveillances to weed out the criminal elements within its fold
one can only anticipate that these criminals will be joined by other, less crazy but nonetheless criminal hunters, who break the law with apparent impunity.
Joe Camilleri
May 6th 2009, 11:28
"The majority of hunters are respecting the government's ban on hunting and trapping" WRONG, ALL HUNTERS are respecting the government's ban although it was promised to us. Those who do not respect it are called POACHERS.
Mr Heinz Schwarze :
hunter = Jäger (in german)
poacher = Wilderer (in german)
They also said that they will return in autumn with more 'birdwatchers'. I think WATCHERS will be a better word.
I wonder how much CABS / Birdlife are paying the times so that every day they will feature an anti hunting letter to continue indoctrinating the general public