Government 'ignores Ornis Committee'

The hunters' federation (FKNK) has criticised the government for ignoring recommendations by the Ornis Committee for the third year in a row and for imposing a ban on hunting from September 15 to 30 in the afternoons from 3 p.m.

It said this measure was not part of EU legislation, and had only been proposed by BirdLife Malta to accommodate foreigners from its so-called ‘Raptor Camp' and CABS.

Still the, federation noted that following police consultations, the government may consider lifting this ban in one area where a self regulation system is in force by the hunters.

"The FKNK had proposed effective and efficient self regulation and deterrent systems to the government, and so the FKNK is very much open to any necessary discussions and consultations with both government and the police, so that a solution can be found to this problem created by BirdLife," the federation said.

"However the FKNK will never accept such systems to be in force in just one particular and preferred area, these have to be imposed in all the areas around Malta and Gozo where hunting is permitted," it added.