Spring hunting decision tomorrow

BirdLife International and The Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU (FACE) have signed a joint statement stressing the need to respect the European Court of Justice decision on spring hunting on Malta, to be delivered tomorrow.

BirdLife International includes BirdLife Malta, while the hunters' federation (FKNK) is a member of FACE.

The two international organisations urged all parties involved to reconcile their differences for the benefit of biodiversity through the promotion of conservation.

“In advance of the ruling of the European Court of Justice in Case C-76/08 on spring hunting of Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur and Common Quail Coturnix coturnix in Malta, we the undersigned state that we will respect the ruling of the Court and we call upon all parties and individuals to do the same.

"Recognising that the situation around hunting in Malta has been characterised by strong controversy, we call upon all individuals to exercise restraint and to avoid any escalation," they said.

The two organisations sadi they continued to strongly condemn any acts of illegal hunting, and called on the government to adequately implement and enforce the law.

"We recognise that individual illegal acts are jeopardising the conservation of biodiversity.

"We remain convinced that the EU Nature Directives provide sufficient possibilities to reconcile nature protection, sustainable hunting, bird-watching and other recreational activities and socio-cultural traditions, in line with the Guidance Document on Sustainable Hunting,” they said.

The Maltese government in a reaction to the joint statement reiterated a statement it made on January 31 last year that t viewed the European Court as the best place where such issues could be decided. While making its case before the court, the government will respect the court’s decision.