Malta argues for spring hunting
Malta today argued in the European Court for the retention of turtle dove and quail hunting in spring, saying there was no satisfactory alternative.
However, the European Commission refuted the argument, referring to derogation reports submitted by the Maltese government showing that both species were caught in sufficient numbers in autumn, Birdlife said in a statement.
Lawyers representing the government and the European Commission this morning presented their case at the European Court, which is considering the case filed by the Commission to ban spring hunting in Malta.
Birdlife said that following today's hearing, the ECJ Advocate General was in the coming months expected to present its opinion to the Court, following which a ruling would be taken on the Malta spring hunting case.
Last year, the European Commission took Malta to court for having allowed spring hunting and trapping of Turtle Dove and Quail from 2004 to 2007. In April last year, the court issued interim measures ordering the Maltese government not to open a spring hunting season until a final ruling was given.
The government did not open the spring hunting season this year, a move BirdLife welcomed as a sensible step towards bringing hunting in line with the Birds Directive.
The case revolves around whether Malta has the legal right, under the Birds Directive, to grant a derogation permitting spring hunting, which is prohibited in all member states. In its application to the Court, the European Commission argued that such a derogation was not legally permissible, because autumn hunting presentedan alternative solution to spring hunting in Malta.
BirdLife said it shared the Commission’s view and stressed that it also sees the autumn hunting season as a feasible alternative.
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mark sultana
May 8th 2009, 21:04
@ r sammut
the less birds pass the more we need to protect them.....because birds are to be enjoyed by all and not soley by those whose pleasure comes from killing them. this spring i am enjoying nature and birds in a way i haven't done before except abroad. Hope spring hunting is abolished even if it is just for this reason.
James Foremosa
May 8th 2009, 09:59
@Fabian Borg - The majority voted for PN because there wasn't a valid alternative NOT because of their obsession (or hobby or sport as you call it) with shooting birds!!! I hope therefore that the majority voted on other issues and not for or against hunting. ....and with 10 doves a year you can bearly back a pie- so you shouldn't be missing much either. Just go out anyway just for the fresh air and take a camera with you, you can legally shoot on any bird with that.
Ramon Casha
May 8th 2009, 06:04
@Fabian Borg: It's pretty obvious that the majority are against spring hunting - you yourself describe hunters as a minority. It has always been my impression, since before we joined the EU, that one of the benefits of membership would be that spring hunting would be ended - even if not immediately because of the temporary derogation. Just because the PN government was elected does not mean that the majority supports every one of the government's decisions for the duration of its term. I have certainly heard of minority rights, but this particular "hobby" requires others to give up their rights - such as the rights to enjoy some living birds, or to enjoy the countryside in peace.
Johnny Xerri
May 8th 2009, 04:27
@MGrech
you-know-whats-stupid:
1. Accepting unequal treatment, for example hunting being allowed in the UK all year round and not for at least 6 months in Malta, when everybody knows of the limitedness of our catch.
2. Being used as a helping hand into the EU and then thrown aside simply for biased opinions.
3. Being labelled as stupid by someone just after his agenda, critisising unconstructively and in a totally biased manner.
4. Encouraging Maltese hunters to spend money abroad in order to hunt when this could be done locally, on a much smaller scale, consder the impact of a Maltese hunter in the UK catching an average of 500 birds in a week to the impact of 40 birds in a year.
5. Being driven off private land (since I cannot practice my hobby I cannot enjoy my land)
6. Being driven off public land (I recall paying my taxes and NI and forming part of the public, so how come when I enjoy part of the common public land for just 1 month in spring I get all sorts of objections)
Finally I consider myself a male&hunter, but not a stupid person, having obtained an MA in economics.
Adrian Archer
May 8th 2009, 02:33
I would like to point out that the majority of the Maltese are not in favour of hunting. And even if they did, for me (and many maltese) hunting for sport is something outrageous. Even if people can't recognise a duck from a falcon, they should stay in the air, where they belong and not on some guy's showcase.
I empathise with the fact that people feel betrayed by what has been promised and not given. Killing birds just becasue they cannot reply in kind is not a sport.
Another point I would like to point out is that fighting against the EU in this manner is futile especially when it has "forced" to take this route (and govt was very pleased). The only way it might work is by showing that hunting is a cultural part of the Maltese (like bullfighting is to Spain). However its not so let us enjoy the birdlife.
c borg
May 7th 2009, 23:40
Dr. Gonzi plz stop fishing for votes! kieku ridtna nafdawk missek ftaht l istagun! u ajdilna x se tamel fuq linsib (ftakar biss li spanja franza olanda etc kolla jonsbu) haddiehor qalilna x se jamel! ir risposta ta kem int fdat mal kaccaturi u n nassaba se tohoda f gunju..
r sammut
May 7th 2009, 22:04
@ N Cammileri
That’s the whole point, we shoot wild turtle doves and quails and of nature’s excess, not pets. While it may seem cruel to shoot game birds, one has only to look at the unfortunate living of reared birds for human consumption. The other point is that game birds are also healthier.
@Mark Sultana
Your reasoning would probably be correct if you believe that millions of birds use this flyway! The average catch in autumn is around one turtle dove for every four or five hunters! While in spring the numbers would take a reverse turn i.e. each hunter averages 4 to 5 doves. Last autumn's migration was just as miserable and when doves had the chance to migrate free the other spring and also half of the previous.
@J Borg
Rest assured Mr Borg, the cost to taxpayer would certainly be much less than the cost of all fabricated exaggerations and off truth being passed on to all and sundry about Malta.
David Borg Cardona
May 7th 2009, 21:09
@ Daniel Micallef..
"dawk it tiri kollha f'Settembru" ???.. Are you positively sure that you can substantiate your claim. We all perfectly know that the dove migration in September is extremely poor to say the least and the few doves which reach our shores are during those rare days of inclement weather conditions. These can been seen mainly on the Western seaboard of the islands and hunters in other areas practically do not get the whiff of one dove let alone catch any.
This "wild" claim by the EU and instigated mainly by BLM and its partners CABS and PROACT that autumn is a suitable alternative is hilarious to put it mildly. If BLM dig deep into their records (and maybe even their consience) they know perfectly well of what I am talking about. They are as is their usual, trying to feed the public with statements which they have never proven and never manage to prove. Just for the record the only day when doves migrated in huge numbers in September was on the 24th Sep 1969 due to a huge anticyclone over the Mediterranean. Not bad is it .. one good day in 40 years !!!
mark sultana
May 7th 2009, 20:37
@ joe; robert & johann
thanks for going so personal on this issue, it just proves what i always thought of who was arrogant. the truth is that even if there are more birds migrating in malta in spring then in autumn those migrating south in autumn are bound to increase in numbers year after year (and not in just one year) alas less then in spring if more are breeding. The truth is also that hunting in spring is unsustainable and i might be no expert but hey guys you're not impressing anyone with your intelligence either (just a bit of your own sour medicine there). Have a bit of foresight. Hope i keep enjoying the countryside as i am doing this spring.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 7th 2009, 20:04
Mr N Camilleri, were you to kill my pet, I will consider you as a hypocrite!! Besides suing you as you will be acting illegally!!
Ms J org, we have had enough of your moaning regarding the countryside! Take my advice and invest in some private property!! And btw, the Court Case is costing the Government much and much less than what it is collecting from the hunters' licences!!!
E Cuschieri, I urge you to inform yourself better about Spring Hunting in other EU states. Your comment only shows how ill-informed and biased you are about hunting!!
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 7th 2009, 20:00
We have CABS policing our countryside, now we have BirdLife reporting re today's ECJ Sitting! WHERE IS OUR GOVERNMENT?!!!!!!!!! SHAME AND SHAME!
This affair is a truce between Government, MIC, EU and BirdLife against the Maltese hunters. Hunters have had written guarantees from the first two, the EU had also publicly acknowledged that Spring Hunting will continue after EU accession. The link below shows what Mr G Verheugen had stated:
http://forum.huntinginmalta.org.mt//YaBB.pl?num=1241469561/0
and follow the link: (WILL THE REAL VERHEUGEN PLEASE STAND UP)
As for BirdLife, they have the news before anyone else!!!
SHAME AND SHAME!!
charles vella
May 7th 2009, 19:43
Dr Gonzi every body now that you took us for a ride ,not only buy trusting you but even written on black on white. I was at pemproke with my family and you guaranteed us that hunting is not going to be touched . We will never trust you any more, I am 53 now, we allways followed PN since l was 18 but sorry . Onces bitten twice shy
MGrech
May 7th 2009, 19:27
It is unbelievable how some people's (mostly males) mind is so limited. It is simply childish and utterly stupid to take our country to such length and argue at EU level in favour of hunting. What a shame! I feel disgusted with such selfishness and limited vision. It is simply stupid how certain people can actually go to such lengths so they can actually shoot down a few birds
Fabian Borg
May 7th 2009, 17:44
@Ramon Casha
Which statistcal study are you referring to when you implicate that the majority of the Maltese are being defended by the ECJ.
As far as I know the PN Government promised to allow Spring Hunting and was even defending the case before the last election.
I guess you must oppose him then ?
Also since the PN Government was elected it means that the majority (or relative majority, call ot what you like) support the Governments stand on this.
So what can you suggest to support your usual erratic conclusions.
Even if it was so ever heard of minority rights ?
Should we start condemning every niche of people practicing anything just because the majority you claim to be a part of disagrees?
M.Buhagiar
May 7th 2009, 17:21
GONZI , IL- KACCA WAQQAFHA GHAL HADDIEHOR IMMA IL- KACCA TIEGHU GHALL- VOTI MA WAQQAFIEX!!!!!!!!!
Ramon Casha
May 7th 2009, 16:52
@Fabian Borg: It's a case of the government of Malta vs. the majority of the Maltese, with the EU acting in the defense of the majority of the Maltese.
Johann Cutajar
May 7th 2009, 16:45
@ Mark Sultana
"this is because those birds which manage to go up north in spring will breed and then larger flocks are migrating south again in autumn"..... what you wrote here makes sense mathematically but unfortunately that's not what actually happens. You're just like a young student whose teacher gave him the answer to his mathematical problem but he never managed to find a solution for that answer. In Maltese we call it "tghalim tal pappagalli"!! Facts state differently dear Mr Sultana.
@ Daniel Micallef
Have you ever heard of clay pigeon shooting, or bird scaring machines (the ones used in vine yards or in fruit tree fields)?? For I have been out in the fields for so many years now and to date I have never been soooo much amazed with "dawk it tiri kollha"!!!
R. Orland
May 7th 2009, 16:44
To the philosophers Daniel Micallef and Mark Sultana....
I've never heard of such teory Mr. Micallef...how can it be that way, since hunting in Malta depends on the weather and the wind direction! notwithstanding the fact that we in are not in the fly way of bird migration!
And Mr. Sultana, just for your information, in autumn there are 32 legally huntable species.
Robert Micallef
May 7th 2009, 16:29
@Mark sultana,
Proset kemm int bravu!
If you really think that in nature works like you pictured it perhaps you should take some time and go in the countryside to observe the migration! What about weather here, air temperature, migration start point ez- italy, why have you left these out of the equation! Perhaps because you don't know anything, imma imbasta ghidt xi haga!
With the hot september weather you will notice that some low areas especially in the south ez- delimara, zonqor, xaghjra etc which in Spring have a chance to bag some turtle doves do not have that chance in september.
Joe Camilleri
May 7th 2009, 16:29
@ mark sultana
If this is so, than how come that last autum '08 we did not experienced , although spring hunting '08 was CLOSED, large flocks of turtledoves flying over Malta. They had all spring to breed & copulate.
& Daniel Micallef
dawk li tisma ma jkunu tiri xejn. Kull ma jkunu huma biss il hsejjes li jghamlu l-bdiewa, b'apparat li jahdem bl'arja ikkompressata, biex inaffru l-ghasfur tal bejt.
@ r ferriggi
yes before the government sees JUST hunters' VOTES, he SHOULD FIRST SEE HIS PROMISES
Fabian Borg
May 7th 2009, 16:01
@ Daniel Micallef
I can testify that with all the effort I put in, which means going out every morning and all day in weekends it is common for me not to shoot at a single dove in September.
On the contrary Spring always deliveres a reasonable bag of about 10 doves per season.
Now 10 doves in a year is already a small bag but zero is not a satisfactory alternative.
Fabian Borg
May 7th 2009, 15:18
Is this case between Malta and Eu or between Malta and Birdlife ?
Quote-Birdlife said that following today's hearing, the ECJ Advocate General was in the coming months expected to present its opinion to the Court, following which a ruling would be taken on the Malta spring hunting case.-Unquote.
Anyone who says that these guys are manouvreing the case from behind the scenes could be seriously right.
godfrey pisani
May 7th 2009, 14:56
the mess gets bigger and bigger , when will we start getting the bull by the horn here and practice what we preach , not turn facts in lies and try ti find all the excuses under the sun to justify the blanders the gov does , and BLM welldone are you running the EU and the ECJ .
A GRECH
May 7th 2009, 14:25
Who are the lawyers in this case BIRD LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!
And by the way SPRING HUNTING is not prohibited in all EU MEMBERS!!!!
You can go to the UK for spring hunting.......and it is a fact BIRD LIFE...
Fabian Borg
May 7th 2009, 14:06
And by the way there is a wrong statement in the article.
I can go hunting in the UK if I had enough money to spend all year including in spring.
Two weights, two measures, welcome to the EU.
E. Cuschieri
May 7th 2009, 13:58
If spring hunting is banned from all other EU member states then why should Malta become an exception to that rule? Simply because there is a lot of moaning going on from both sides?
Why cant we be satisfied with what we are given? If it was up to the hunters, there would be hunting all year round, and if birdlife had their way, there would be no hunting at all. Now rationally none of the above scenarios work. A compromise from both sides is the only way to move forward.
If hunters stick to the law, they can enjoy the Autumn hunt, which as far as I know is a time when birds migrate from the North to the South, so I would imagine there is a number of birds to shoot. In the spring time, when many families venture out on their first annual picnics, the birds can breed in peace (to replenish their numbers for the Autumn hunt) and the country side can be enjoyed in its safe and beautiful splendor. Everybody wins.
No man is an island. Lets remember that.
J. Borg
May 7th 2009, 13:49
So hunters are claiming that they want to hunt in Spring because in Autumn they don’t get as much chance to kill (and eat) as many quails & turtledoves.
On the other hand they expect the general public and tourist to feel privileged that hunters have allowed them Sunday’s afternoons and the hot dry Summer to peacefully and safely enjoy our island’s countryside. After all it is hunters who safeguard the environment some billboards claim (sic).
It is evident that hunters (in their egoistic pretensions), and the Attorney General with this Gonzi government (in presenting this case), have distorted logic and priorities – to say the least!
Can we know how much the Court Case (to champion hunters’ thrill to kill and taste buds) is costing the taxpayer please……
Chris Galea
May 7th 2009, 13:37
It is simply NOT true that turtle doves and quails are caught in sufficient numbers in autumn,it's a big fat lie ! Both Birdlife and the gov. knows that ! Now let's see how transparent the ECJ is !!
S Zammit
May 7th 2009, 13:30
@A Farrugia
Just because 2PN candidates do not share the same opinion on a particular debate does not make a particular party torn apart.
C Calleja
May 7th 2009, 13:28
where's alan deidun ? is he in favour ?
N Camilleri
May 7th 2009, 13:27
Why should the EU intervene in this? Malta should act in advance - STOP all hunting seasons TODAY and promote this all over the EU. Why kill birds for the benefit of the minority (ie: hunters)? Leave birds alive so that everyone can enjoy them freely! Take photos and leave them alive, instead of killing them for your own benefit!
What would you say if I kill your pet for my own satisfaction? The fact that 'wild' animals do not have owners does not mean that anyone can take them for his or her own satisfaction.
edwin formosa
May 7th 2009, 13:24
@ A Farrugia Ara ghandekx hila tipperswadi lil shabek il-kuragguzi kandidati tal MLP ghal Parlament Ewropew , jaccettaw l-isfida ghal dibattitu mal-kandidati tal-PN !!!! B'hekk inkunu nafu min hu maqsum u min qed jizfen fin-nofs.!!!
r ferriggi
May 7th 2009, 13:20
the issue is not whether the hunting season is on or not.
the issue is; WILL THE HUNTERS SHOOT AT ANYTHING THAT FLIES??
we all know the answer.
so,,, before the government sees JUST hunters VOTES for the elections etc etc,,,,, we remind him ( the government) that he represents ALL the people!!
mark sultana
May 7th 2009, 13:07
@ joe camilleri.....hunters can never catch more turtle doves in spring then in autumn. this is because those birds which manage to go up north in spring will breed and then larger flocks are migrating south again in autumn. So if hunters hardly catch turtle doves in autumn chances are that wouldn't either in spring so why hunt in the first place (unless u use turtle dove hunting as an excuse to shoot at anything that lfies by!!)
If spring hunting is abolished and hopefully it is, autumn hunting catches will bound to increase.
Hope spring hunting is abolished since it also gives a chance to all the maltese to enjoy the countryside with its full natural beauty.
Daniel Micallef
May 7th 2009, 13:02
@joe camilleri
who are you trying to fool. dawk it tiri kollha f settembru fuq xiex ikunu mela?
Thanks to the EU spring hunting has become a thing of the past and i am pretty confident that it will remain this way forever.
Clive Demicoli
May 7th 2009, 13:00
@ nxuereb
Do not confuse things please. Hunting in Autumn is allowed under EU law. It is not even an issue. The Bird's Directive refers only to hunting in Spring.
jcmicallef
May 7th 2009, 12:58
did anyone ehar anything about italy's proposal to open all seasons for hunting?
they say tha they are also considering reducing the 'recovery period' form 5 to 3 years (areas hit byy fires or where wildlife is recovering).
I wonder how the EU will tackle that!
peter camilleri
May 7th 2009, 12:54
all this could have easily been avoided if the then PN in government had really negotiated and achieved what it actually said it had done.....that is a permanent derogation......we were re-assured about this derogation by the then Prime Minister Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami, Dr. Simon Busuttil head of the then MIC, Mr. Richard Cachia Caruana chief negotiator with the E.U., the then Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. John Borg etc etc..........and then the Hon Minister George Pullicino publicly states that the PN had nothing to apologize for vis-a-vis Maltese hunters and trappers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andrew Gatt
May 7th 2009, 12:53
Birdlife said, Birdlife said, Birdlife said. This NGO is arrogance personified! It is NOT even a party to this case, yet it always seems to get information and to issue statements even before the Government of Malta.
And, dear readers, for your information, Birdlife actually issued a press release in 2003 whereby they stated that they hope hunters would only shoot quail and turtle doves as agreed with the EU!!!!!! Following their recruitment of foreign executives, they then ran crying to the EU like classroom sneaks, using their network of contacts to instigate this very court case.
Their deceit and their lies know no limits. One only has to read yesterday's Times to find out where the massacres, migratory paths and millions and millions of shot birds are.
A Farrugia
May 7th 2009, 12:48
u David Demicoli, kandidat tal-PN ghal Parlament Ewropew ghaddej b kampanja qalila KONTRA IL-KACCA. Partit Nazzjonalista MAQSUM. Perici Calascione u Philip Mifsud fuq naha u Demicoli u Deidun fuq in naha l-ohra. U Gonzi jizfen fin nofs.
Joe Camilleri
May 7th 2009, 12:42
"caught in sufficient numbers in autumn", the majority of hunters do not even catch a single turtle dove in autumn so imagine how it is caught in sufficient numbers.
n xuereb
May 7th 2009, 12:40
What are BLM talking about? If they want to ban hunting in Autumn as well how come they are offering Autumn as an alternative? Who's up for a bet to see that after the court ruling against spring hunting BLM will move to ban Autumn. They've been indicating this for the past 6 years.