ECJ decides against Malta in spring hunting case

Paul Debono

Jan 30th 2010, 18:31

The amount of spin presented by the hunters is truly amazing.

For those who have forgotten already:

“The prolongation of the hunting season for those two migratory species by authorisation of hunting for approximately two months in spring, during which the two hunted species are returning to their rearing grounds, which results in a mortality rate three times higher (around 15,000 birds killed) for quails and eight times higher (around 32,000 birds killed) for turtle doves than for the autumn hunting season, does not constitute an adequate solution that is strictly proportionate to the Directive’s objective of conservation of the species.”
The ECJ said that in these circumstances, even though only an inconsiderable number of the two species at issue are present in autumn and for a very limited period, and since hunting is not impossible in autumn, “by authorising the opening of the spring hunting season for quails and turtle doves for several weeks each year, from 2004 to 2007, Malta has failed to comply with the conditions for a derogation under Article 9(1) of the Directive, interpreted in the light of the principle of proportionality and, accordingly, has failed to fulfil its obligations under that directive.”

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090910/local/european-court-bans-spring-hunting-in-malta

W Spencer

Sep 30th 2009, 10:56

@ Johnny Xerri

Here we go again, citing what other Countries do, or do not do !! The UK is in RAPID decline in almost everything, so using the UK as an example is pointless.

You live in Malta, concentrate on your own Countries problems, let other Countries worry about their problems.

Johnny Xerri

Sep 13th 2009, 12:05

@ J Oatmon

& when will the UK come in order & tackle its wildlife crime?

The UK don't even manage to control wildlife crime & they know it
http://www.sportinggun.co.uk/news/252235/Police_fail_to_tackle_wildlife_crime_across_UK.html

The UK dont even have respect for raptors and conviniently classify them as pests in order to avoid embaressment for failing to tackle wildlife crime
http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/news/341596/New_guidance_to_help_control_protected_predators.htm

And then you comment as if you come from a holy birdsanctuary when in reality the UK allows hunting all year round day and night thats 24/7/356


Yes I do not take kindly to being told what I can and cannot do, when the voice of instruction originates from a much bigger failure.

By all means all of the EU is free to; live, work, enjoy Malta.
But nobody is welcome to mudsling.

J Oatmon

Sep 12th 2009, 20:55

The Maltese like to be free to do whatever they like, and they do not take kindly to being told what they can and cannot do. The EU has the backbone to do what Maltese politicians are afraid to do (for the sake of a few votes), the EU looks after the majority not the special interests of the minority.
The problem now is the spineless Malta legal system as we can see, yet again from the VAT fraud case - will any illegal hunters have their guns confiscated, and have hefty fines, or will it be more suspended sentence rubbish, or useless interdiction?

Chris Reiff

Sep 12th 2009, 19:30

I must say I don't like hunting at all, but then again, why protect birds when millions of cows, pigs, fish are killed, mostly in brutal manners, for meat?

Life's cycle, I'm afraid.

martin john pisani

Sep 12th 2009, 12:45

@Lenore Ann Micallef, last spring i went hunting in the UK(another EU country) and i shot everyday from dusk til dawn, and before you ask, no they were not birds reared for hunting, just wild birds both migratory and not, some of these birds migrate over malta in spring, but little tiny Malta has no say in the matter but big brave powerful UK basically does what they want when it comes to hunting. You mention bred for the hunt...I have never heard of foxes,pigeons,squirrels,crows,gulls(certain breeds)doves or even rats being bred just for the sport.
And at the end of the day hunting and trapping was negotiated,agreed upon and released in black and white,from both the PN and the EU,but the BIG BULLIES change their mind as they please, fair or discriminate?
So all of malta sit back and be over powered by the big guns, oh and the worst is yet to come

Andrew Gatt

Sep 11th 2009, 17:21

@ Stephen Borg Cardona.............apart from Johnny Xerri's excellent reply to your post, if you REALLY want to address heart disease in Malta, why not campaign against unhealthy eating habits, junk food, smoking, air pollution, food additives, lack of exercise and couch potatoes?

Hunting provides both healthy exercise and EXTREMELY healthy game. Good for the soul and good for the body! Why not try the experience one day? Informing oneself never hurts. I watch birds - the protected ones - and enjoy it. Go on! Give it a shot!! ;) ;)

Johnny Xerri

Sep 11th 2009, 16:10

@ Stephen Borg Cardona

1st of all accept that the EJC did not rule against hunting and just ruled against the method of application of a derogation under article 9(a) of the birds directive.

2nd if its really the lead contamination that you are worried about please think before you write. Lead used for hunting oxidises and does not cause pollution. Further more most of the lead is in fact not pure lead but a mixture of other metals its an alloy which does not dissolve in water.

3rd a cartridge has on average 32grms of lead, that's about a teaspoon (kuccarina)

4th if hunting is polluting so much in Malta God knows the effect of hunting 24*7*365 in many EU member states, and no lead pollution directive is in place?
Stop using everything under the sun to justify your extremist opinion.

Stephen Borg Cardona

Sep 11th 2009, 00:34

I was just this week reading an article in an international news magazine about the damage cause to the Heart by the ingestion of lead. Banning spring hunting will result in lower levels of lead in our drinking water and will result in a lower incidence of Heart disease in Malta.

Ray Galea

Sep 10th 2009, 21:10

Great day for Birds. To celebrate the beatuty of live Birds and Nature a new Website on the birds of Malta has just been launched. Please take a look here:
http://www.birdinginmalta.com/

Robert Scullion

Sep 10th 2009, 21:02

@lgalea

Your comment just goes to show how blinkered you are when it comes to the EU. Here is a decision that you ultimately agree with (ban hunting) ... yet you still would prefer people to go out hunting just because the decision came down from the EU Court. How stupid and warped you must be.

Good decision ECJ, finally

Tony Caruana

Sep 10th 2009, 21:00

@ andy towler

please read

He who laughs last laughs the best !!

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090910/local/government-to-examine-if-very-limited-spring-hunting-is-possible

S Vella

Sep 10th 2009, 20:53

@ Joe Vella
It would be much more honest to give our kids a copy of the letter the ex Prime minister Eddie Fenech Adami sent all hunters and trappers before the EU referndum and tell them about all the lies MIC misinformed the Maltese society to steal crucial votes to win the referendum because otherwise we would not be members of the EU. Tell them to open their eyes and mind about our trustworthy politicians who preech so much Christianity but in practise they are nothing but "OQBRA MBAJDA" who are ready to do anything for that parliament chair!!
And finally tell them that all the government negotiated before the referendum is nothing but Farse...and we lost the first battle at the ECJ so the other derogations are to make fool of us Maltese, and God willing in the future it will be you whol will realise that you too have been betrayed in one way or other.

Lenore Ann Micallef

Sep 10th 2009, 18:34

This is fantastic. I personally do not like (really dislike) any hunting, but do not feel I have the right to impose my views on others. But others do not have the right to deprive me of my joy at seeing the birds, especially if hunted to extinction. So I think that if people wish to shoot at birds then they should breed them for this, as they do in the UK.

lgalea

Sep 10th 2009, 17:54

Joe Vella
Thank you for admitting that your party especially its past leader EFA treacherously and deceitfully took the hunters, trappers and the Maltese citizens for a ride. Remember Joe, li All ma jhallasx bin-nhar ta' Sibt.

All those who have been negatively affected by eu membership get together and work to get Malta OUT of the eu to get back our independence and freedom from the eu colonialist dictatorship.

Mike Fitzgibbons
I do not welcome it even though I am not in favour of hunting because it shows the treachery and deceit perpetrated by EFA and the eu itself because although they knew what was being promised they did not correct EFA. I also do not welcome it because that is a foreign colonialist petty dictators decision.

John Abela

Sep 10th 2009, 17:26

It's clear, isn't it? A good win for FKNK in the European Court where it has argued that quail and turtledoves can be hunted in Malta in spring asccording to the Birds Directive because they're not endangered and there is no real alternative in any other season.
BirdLife should now act gentlemanly and stop its campaign against spring hunting as this has been approved by none other than the European Court of Justice.

Ray Buhagiar

Sep 10th 2009, 17:21

As from now on the 8th September we will commemorate another victory. Our children will bless ECJ decision

Andre Breton

Sep 10th 2009, 17:20

At the height of the Roman Empire, an estimated 55 million people lived on Earth. By the 14th century, we had multiplied to about 450 million personalities. Since the 18th century, we've increased from a thousand million to close to seven-thousand million (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population). For most of this human history, about 100,000 million years, resources abounded. The sea overflowed with fish, shellfish, etc. And the land too, offered everything in abundance. Now, baring one or more unrecorded divine interventions, I think we can safely assume that it was this bounty-on-earth that fueled human population growth: Antoine Lavoisier demonstrated that mass is neither created nor destroyed and our crazed consumption of everything edible and ignitable on Earth is no exception - Earth's former bounty has been literally transformed into...us. What remains is so pathetic, so minuscule that all of us should feel ill from shame. The collateral damage of our eating and burning frenzy lay everywhere. Here is where my brief essay ends, I implore us to recognize that we can no longer live as we did when we had a bounty-on-earth. There is simply too many of us. Please stop shooting for sport, please let the few birds that remain reproduce.

Mary Gatt

Sep 10th 2009, 17:17

BirdLife International yesterday declared that it will abide by the European Court's ruling.

The Court's ruling is that hunting of quail and turtledove in Malta can be done in spring because there is no other alternative in autumn and they are not endangered species.

This clearly allows spring hunting in Malta.

Will BirdLife Malta abide by the BirdLife International's commitment?

Johnny Xerri

Sep 10th 2009, 16:14

@ J Vella

Excuse me in asking, who are you to decide on my and the 17000 hunters and their family whats best.

So why hold elections?

Mhux xorta ax is sur J Vella or his party know whats best we do a he or his party says.

Whats good for you may not be good for me, thats why everybody has a vote and thats why elections are held. By your reasoning promise everything then do whats convenient.

Dik il gustizzja, liberta u democrazija li ana Malta.
Than by all that I am may be worth, I totally disassociate myself from your beliefs & long for the near future when I will move over to the UK and remember of Malta as a communist farce.

In the mean time I will continue spreading through my business connections abroad the phrase

'Planning a holiday in Malta think again. The maltese have no guilt in betraying their fellow citizens by justifying the government's breaking of a pre-election and pre-referendum guarantee. Do you as foreigners expect to be treated better?'

Its doing rounds through hunters abroad and I am getting emails thanking me for pointing this out.

salvu abela

Sep 10th 2009, 16:04

Well I really can`t understand why all these hated comments about Spring hunting in Malta when both game birds are shot somewhere else in the same EU. Now in Malta 15.000 Quails and 32.000 Turtle Doves where killed and in the rest of the EU 2,634,334 Quails and 2.367,416 are killed, so I think it`s only a drop in the ocean what`s killed in Malta and also in the EU both birds are shot when they are young and in Malta are shot when they are returning back to breed yet still in both circumstances they are still shot, 2 months old or 10 months old they still had no chance to breed,so what`s the big deal. For those who think that because Spring hunting is not allowed doesn`t mean that private land is gonna be public, so you still going to see " NO ENTRY and PRIVATE KEEP-OUT ".

Johnny Xerri

Sep 10th 2009, 16:04

@ RGatt

1. In hunting the quarry its true as you say killed with no release option. However, in hunting one has the luxary of knowing what is being targeted. In fishing this is no option as you cannot control which fish bites on the bait. That is why there is a release option.

2. It seems that you are more affraid of firearms than is warrented considering that nobody has been injured by firearms in malta for decades.

3. You needn't argue with hunters. If you stick to public land especially reserves (considering that there are over 40 in Malta and Gozo) and stay of private land.

moreover, if hunting is banned & I find anyone and I mean anyone in my land then he needs to be worried much more than if I had a gun. For now I would be much more frustrated and were as before I would have gently asked him to move out, now I will garb the phone siletly call the police and make sure that I take legal action for trespassing

Johnny Xerri

Sep 10th 2009, 15:57

@ Adrian Cachia

I have hunted many times in the UK & never broke a law, not even in Malta. Considering that I have been hunting for many years now I think that my criminal record (or should I say no criminal history) does me enough justice. I want to hunt not break laws.

@ G Portelli,
I know Malta's laws its 50mtr from the main road and 200mtrs from inhabited areas. My stretch of land is just 300mtrs from buildings and conveniently has a 200mtrs length by 50mtrs frontage so all that means is that I cannot hunt in the first 50mtrs. The permits have been issued in 1994 and have been renewed every 5 years (under both PL and PN administration) all in order 'mate'

@ R Gatt
Why should you have an argument with a hunter unless you’re in his land? Believe me I need no gun to throw anyone off my land. A call to the police & they can do the job, no need to argue.

@K Cassar,

I am referring to amateur fishing, which is just like hunting. I see no restrictions there unless the people off the jetty at bugiba are catching tuna.

r sammut

Sep 10th 2009, 15:56

Justice handed out without any possibility for appeal! Congratulations to the joining in EU, Malta have become the doormat for all! What about the guarantees and sweet pre-accession talks of us being on equal footing with derogations, as enjoyed by other EU states? These words and others were backed up by the highest EU officials involved in the negotiations!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iRNln1D7fs

This two way affair was a deceit between EU and Malta!

Joe Vella

Sep 10th 2009, 15:24

If the Government deceived the hunters on this issue the better. The future of Malta and that of our Children is more important then that of the Hunters perceived right to shoot a a few fowl out of the skies every spring

J.Bonnici

Sep 10th 2009, 14:43

That's one law that no Maltese government could have dreamt of implementing. Thank God for the EU.

V Mangion

Sep 10th 2009, 14:23

I think the Eu here is unreasonably non-fair since considering hunting in Eu countries like Uk example there are seasons and months allocated for hunting for different species! Also one good reflecting question what about torturous killing of the TORO in Spain and here we cheer and clap for it! What about deers in Northern Europe so please do not try to be sympathetic with the birds because in reality nobody is so!!! Hunting existed in Malta since ages and hundreds of years and one cannot condemn its practice because of killing!! Abortion is killing too and ignorance is death too!!!

S Vella

Sep 10th 2009, 14:19

@ Massimo Borg
We are used to have national memorial days such as "Jum L-Indipendenza" and we can see how independent we are, "Jum Il-Helsien" and we can see how Hielsa we are, and so on...so now maybe our kids can celebrate Jum it-Tradiment and they are given a copy of the letter the prime minister sent us (hunters and trappers) before the EU referendum and MIC misinformation, and they learn to open their eyes and mind about our politicians and who t trust!!

T Mifsud

Sep 10th 2009, 13:51

"Lets go out of the EU...."

this quote exemplifies the anarchy mentality of the 70s and 80s and is very prevalent in some of your group. What a shame! Live with it or get out yourself!

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Sep 10th 2009, 13:46

The court judgment will prove that Government notwithstanding written guarantees to all hunters assuring the continuation of spring hunting, had other intentions in mind. The fact that it incorrectly applied the derogation can only mean it was doing so intentionally. This coupled with an agreement to phase out finch trapping in 2008 only points to a pre planned strategy in collusion with the EU. That of abolishing spring hunting and trapping after a 5 year transition period.

Had hunters known what awaited them their vote would have effected EU membership. Deceit was the only way of assuring they did not.

If the comparison with Finland were credible, why is the 2004 season being questioned when the Finnish case was decided in 2005? Also why does The EU allow Finland to hunt the Long-Tailed Duck in spring whilst Malta is not?

Certainly a government that guarantees a pastime in writing should ensure that when applying a derogation all conditions are met, unless of course its intentions were to take all hunters for a very good ride.

The ECJ cannot deny Malta's right to derogate in future. Hopefully the Government doing that will not be a Birdlfie lackey.

S Vella

Sep 10th 2009, 13:42

ECJ...very strong with the small but not with the big. You gave us a clear picture of how democratic and fair you are!! EU... the gods of democracy...we have here a clear example.
To all those cheering and toasting, I remind you of the written guarantee our Ex Priminister/President (EFA) gave us in writing before the EU referendum, and the honest information MIC gave the public, to betray them and steal crucial votes which determined our EU membership!! Modern Judas...
To all the Maltese...Do not feel confident with anything this government negotiated before the referendum because when we faced the first battle we failed! so who knows... maybe next time it would be you angry and felt betrayed by our honest government.THE DEROGATIONS ARE CONFIRMED FARSE!
@S AZZOPARDI you may suggest a monument to those who betrayed their Maltese Brothers, EFA and MIC and Mr Verhugen haunting the area in their background!
A suggestion.. may be similar to be one at LUQA roundabout.
VIVA MALTA INDIPENDENTI U HIELSA!!! THREE CHEERS.....

Steve Hawkins

Sep 10th 2009, 13:41

Finally ..... Thumbs up for ECJ.

R.Gatt

Sep 10th 2009, 13:24

@Johnny Xerri

Here are three reasons why fishing is better than hunting:

1) In fishing you sometimes have the option of throwing your catch back into the sea. In hunting, your prey is dead on arrival.

2) Any firearm used in hunting can also be used to kill a person, whereas I have never heard of anyone being whipped to death with a fishing rod. Also, accidentally/intentionally hooking someone with your rod (standard hooks and not the swordfish/tuna ones!!) can only cause minor/non life threatening injuries.

3) Guns make both noise pollution and environmental pollution (due to the lead shot). Fishing only generates environmental pollution if the person fishing is a litterbug.

Overall, I think it is mostly due to the intimidating nature of firearms and at times, the person wielding them, that the vast majority of the population abhors hunting. Let's face it, I would not like to ever have an argument with such persons carrying a fishing rod, let alone a firearm!

David Bonello

Sep 10th 2009, 13:15

NO PROBLEM..... NOW I WILL GO HUNTING IN ANY OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRY DURING SPRING AND SHOOT THREE HUNDRED TIMES OF WHAT I BAG IN MALTA.

Massimo Borg

Sep 10th 2009, 13:08

Halleluja! May this day be remembered by our children and our children's children, from one generation to another, halleluja! Free at last!

Muscat Pat

Sep 10th 2009, 12:53

The leaders of the Hunters should have the decency to resign! They led the hunters and trappers into this point of no return. "Issa iz-zejt telgha f'wicc l-ilma! All those lies about hunting and the E U by the former leader of PN DR Fenech Adami! PN depicted the EU, especially MIC and Simon Busuttil, as if it was heaven on earth, and indeed, it is heaven for those thousands of unelected officials! Deceit is going to be the trademark of PN in the future; il-giddieb tilef giehu!

T Tabone

Sep 10th 2009, 12:53

@ B.Bonavia

yes. let's go out of the EU for a bunch of people who cannot shoot at quail now. Maltese 70's mentality at its best!

Andrew Gatt

Sep 10th 2009, 12:35

Official numbers of fowl-like birds (Galliformes) and pigeons and doves (Columbiformes) shot annually in Europe.

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo): 214
Hazel Grouse (Bonasia bonasia) 111,119
Willow Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) 382,568
Red Grouse (Lagopus l. scoticus) 435,582
Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) 175,270
Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) 203,627
Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) 75,344
Chukar (Alectoris chukar) 420,000
Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca) 242,436
Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) 5,016,178
Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara) n.a.
Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) 1,872,904
Quail (Coturnix coturnix) 2,634,334
Common Pheasant (Phasanius colchius) 21,959,775
Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) 6,250
Rock Dove (Columba livia) n.a.
Stock Dove (Columba oenas) 210,592
Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) 15,571,251
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 457,240
Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) 2,367,416

So much for the "millions" that are shot over Malta! And in any case, out of these species, only Quail and Turtle Dove migrate over Malta. Compare these figures with those in the article. Lilna rawna zejda hej! What deceit. What hypocrisy. Imbasta l-weghdiet u l-ittri.

Gonzipn??? You mean GONZIPNOCCHIO.

j cutajar

Sep 10th 2009, 12:32

I've noticed how hunters like to use nice sounding words to describe bird slaughter.
They always mention the words 'conservation' ,'environmentalists', 'hobby', 'sport',
'pass time', tradition , 'culture' etc..
I have yet to see them actually spell out in plain English 'I love killing birds',or 'I get a kick out of blasting birds out of the sky'
Considering this bird killing frenzy are we to assume you're bird lovers or bird haters??

Kenneth Cassar

Sep 10th 2009, 12:26

@ Johnny Scerri:

"I fish & hunt & after 27 years doing so I still cannot distinguish why one is allowed whilst the other is being restricted".

You are mistaken if you think that "fishing" is not restricted. Just to give one example, you might wish to check out the following link:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090910/local/spain-to-wait-on-tuna-ban

G. Portelli

Sep 10th 2009, 12:22

@ Johnny Xerri

Sour grapes man!!

Make sure you have the right permits at hand and by the way you should know that there are distances to be adhered to when hunting. Do not tell anyone where is your land as you might find that either you were hunting outside law parameters or else your building permits may be fake!!

Kenneth Cassar

Sep 10th 2009, 12:19

Three words: Told you so.

alfred zammit

Sep 10th 2009, 12:12

YOU are all blaming the government.Ipersonally am glad of this decision as Ilove animals .I do sympitise whit the persons who had this hobby but Iencourage them to change their targets.Clay pigeon[platini],pistol or rifle shooting should become a new challenge to them and the government should help tangibly to provide premises[shooting ranges for all calibers pistol,rifle,shootgun] and subsidise this sport heavily to allow the hunters etc to switch mentality to a sporting one and provide champions like the present super champion we have in shooting.Dont let politicians sway you one way or the other for their political gain.Whoever sat on the wall doing nothing is worse then who at least tried to defend the cause in the european court.

V Falzon

Sep 10th 2009, 12:04

YeeeeeeeeHaaaa!! Bring out the champagne glasses. People of goodwill, it's time to celebrate!

Adrian Huber

Sep 10th 2009, 12:01

yesss....yes rejoice. I have never hunted but to all those rejoicing, know that I will be the first to rejoice when they take part of your life away.

Can't you see that this is proof that we cannot believe any promise made? Besides, I imagine (please hunters correct me if i'm wrong) that hunting is not just a hobby....its a way of life. I'd like to see how some people would react if they were banned from doing something that they were born into and their family have done for generations.

Well, congratulations on your victory. Next time it will be your turn, i'm sure.....hadd wara hadd, tasal ta kulhadd

Adrian Cachia

Sep 10th 2009, 12:01

@ Johnny Xerri

Enjoy! You can buy your tickets any time! Don't forget to obey the rules when hunting in the UK, failure to do that will probably get you in jail!

Annalise Falzon

Sep 10th 2009, 11:54

Ehm if quail and turtle doves are so rare in autumn ...I wonder what all the shots I am hearing are aimed at ...

Joe Farrugia

Sep 10th 2009, 11:38

@ Patrick Farrugia
Please don't let them kill camping. I was already planning my next pellet-free camping adventure next spring. Do you want to join?

Joe Vella

Sep 10th 2009, 11:31

@ E. Psaila

The EU is not pro abortion. It is the left leaning groups at the EU that are pro abortion. The leading and largest group among is these is the European Socialists.

Michael Camilleri

Sep 10th 2009, 11:29

When taking into consideration the fact that most other European countries are breeding grounds for the mentioned species and that Malta fis situated in just a small part of the seasonal migratory paths, I feel that the decision taken by the court is discriminatory to Maltese hunters. Both species are hunted in almost all of Europe in autumn and on their way back to Africa Malta's position is last and the least. In autumn Maltese hunters will only be able to hunt a fraction of the fraction that is left by other European hunters. Hunting in spring would give the Maltese shooter some extra opportunity to be first in the relevant migratory path before birds reach the rest of Europe and birds migrating on other routes in spring are not affected what so ever. On these grounds I feel that the decision taken is not adequate. .

B Bonavia

Sep 10th 2009, 11:25

Lets go out of the EU....

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Sep 10th 2009, 11:24

Explanations and accountibility from Mr. Verheugen, Dr Fenech Adami and MIC - EU Information Centre are expected! If WRITTEN guarantees cannot be kept, what are we to expect from VERBAL guarantees?

Mr Lewis Mizzi, "we're progressing towards a European mentality"!! Are you aware that other EU hunters enjoy their hobby 365 days a year?

You are absolutely right Mr Edwin Formosa - birds are more important than human-beings in the EU. We call that HYPOCRISY!

For all those rejoicing, well, you could be next! As for the countryside, stop dreaming that hunters will ever give you their privately owned land in the countryside to enjoy! Primarily, they are presenting enjoying their pastime within the parameters of the law, and secondly, private means private and nobody has a right to trespass!!

angelo muscat

Sep 10th 2009, 11:21

Chaw Chaw Pn.next elec tion.

fbonello

Sep 10th 2009, 11:20

No bird killing, but YES to abortion......is not this killing as well? European hypocrites !!!!

Sandro Zahra

Sep 10th 2009, 11:13

Finally!!!

Tonio Debattista

Sep 10th 2009, 11:12

The Court has NOT banned spring hunting. It has only said that the length of spring hunting in 2004-07 was excessive. Interestingly, it has said that autumn hunting is no alternative to spring hunting, in which case the Birds Directive actually allows spring hunting. This was the big argument of the case, whether autumn hunting is an adequate alternative to spring hunting. The Court has now actually certified that it is not. One would now expect the government to allow hunting in spring but for fewer weeks according to this judgment.

Jesmond Agius

Sep 10th 2009, 11:07

don't be so happy with spring hunting ban .tomorrow eu might ban your hobby or something you enjoy most in life . In maltese we say hadd wara hadd jasal ta kulhadd

C.Sammut

Sep 10th 2009, 11:07

Hunters should get together and compile the massive amount of information they know into a book or a tv documentary. One about the birds of the Maltese islands has never been made as far as I know.

Trudy Attard

Sep 10th 2009, 11:06

now let's see this ban put into practice! no more 'no entries' and illegal iron gates or shooting at ppl while out walking or camping!

David Buttigieg

Sep 10th 2009, 11:02

Finally!

Three cheers for the ECJ!

Johnny Xerri

Sep 10th 2009, 11:02

RGatt

Isn’t fishing that you put on your list just as bad as hunting.

I fish & hunt & after 27 years doing so I still cannot distinguish why one is allowed whilst the other is being restricted. After all I find hunting much more humane way of dispatching a quarry. Just a pull of the trigger rather then enticing a fish to the hook and pulling it out by its throat.

As for the people saying hurray!!!

I am lucky my land is close to a main road all that I will do now is built it that’s for conservation(I already have the building permits but never developed it before hunting was banned)

Then get all the money from it & emigrate to the UK.

Nice drawing the money from Malta, plus mine & my wife’s Masters degree which was paid from your taxes & go and serve another country.

On top of that my signature in hunting forums abroad reads:
'Be aware of the Maltese, they had no guilt in denying us hunters of an electoral and pre-referendum promise. They will treat you no better, most probably worst. Don’t be conned choose another destination'

Guess what it works

Andy Towler

Sep 10th 2009, 11:02

Fantastic news.

"During the proceedings, Attorney General Silvio Camilleri argued that the end of spring hunting would practically mean the end of hunting in Malta since the number of turtle dove and quail which fly over in the autumn is very low."

Even better.

"No appeal may be made."

Better still!

Johnny Xerri

Sep 10th 2009, 11:01

RGatt

Isn’t fishing that you put on your list just as bad as hunting.

I fish & hunt & after 27 years doing so I still cannot distinguish why one is allowed whilst the other is being restricted. After all I find hunting much more humane way of dispatching a quarry. Just a pull of the trigger rather then enticing a fish to the hook and pulling it out by its throat.

As for the people saying hurray!!!

I am lucky my land is close to a main road all that I will do now is built it that’s for conservation(I already have the building permits but never developed it before hunting was banned)

Then get all the money from it & emigrate to the UK.

Nice drawing the money from Malta, plus mine & my wife’s Masters degree which was paid from your taxes & go and serve another country.

On top of that my signature in hunting forums abroad reads:
'Be aware of the Maltese, they had no guilt in denying us hunters of an electoral and pre-referendum promise. They will treat you no better, most probably worst. Don’t be conned choose another destination'

Guess what it works

Joe Camilleri

Sep 10th 2009, 10:54

Angelo CASERTA, Regional Director of the European Division of BirdLife International and Angus MIDDLETON CEO & Director of Conservation of FACE should have issued a joint stament in May 2004, during Malta's accession to the EU stressing the need to respect the MALTA's decision to apply a derogation.

Now let us wait to know how much the Govt is going to pay..

Timmy

Sep 10th 2009, 10:52

It may be just my opinion... but for me Hunting is Murder! This is indeed fantastic news. And maybe we get rid of those hunting huts which ruin the countryside. Yippie.

Patrick Farrugia

Sep 10th 2009, 10:51

Now we can close this issue and start to kill any other hobby that we do not agree with. Let's now focus first on petards (noise polution) then focus on fishing (killing) then on paragliding (just in case it proves an obstacle to the view from my villa) and then on rambling just for the sake of it. When we win all battles we can sit down in the living room watching TV and writing fairy tales.

E. Azzopardi

Sep 10th 2009, 10:50

There it is. We obviously MUST comply with this ruling or else we WILL be heavily fined. The financial situation is not good ( or is it?) and we do not need to invent more unnecessary taxes!!
So, as has been already said here, let us proceed to the next step. NOISE.
We'll get there but grumbling and moaning alone does not get us anywhere. No pain no gain.

Robert Caruana

Sep 10th 2009, 10:50

ALLELUJIAH.....ALLELUJIAH.....FREE THE COUNTRYSIDE

S Azzopardi

Sep 10th 2009, 10:48

My thoughts right now rest with all Birdlife Malta members, past and present, alive and dead who have worked so hard all their life to achieve this huge blow in the name of bird protection in the Maltese islands, whose aim has always been to bring Malta in line with other European countries where it comes to conservation and respect for wildlife.

To theses people i say: Remember this day ladies and gentlemen, for it will be yours for all time!

carmelo aquilina

Sep 10th 2009, 10:47

Kudos to the ECJ !!

E.Psaila

Sep 10th 2009, 10:46

@Lewis Mizzi

Do you see the European mentality as a progress for us? Well they might be against bird killing but unfortunately they are in favour of killing unborn children among other controversial things. Do you still think it's something we should aim for?

A.Saliba

Sep 10th 2009, 10:46

Better news if it was, 'All year round banned from hunting'.

Sean Schembri

Sep 10th 2009, 10:45

YIPPIE :) WOOOHOOO :P

G. Caruana

Sep 10th 2009, 10:45

What fun is in this hobby anyway?

Good news.

edin formosa

Sep 10th 2009, 10:45

European Court bans spring hunting in Malta........but vindicates abortion throughout the year. Pippistrelli are more valuable than human beings. Shooting birds in Spring is a crime. Murdering babies in the womb is legal. Ipokriti.

Mike Fitzgibbons.

Sep 10th 2009, 10:39

I welcome the judgement of the European Court. As the court said "Malta has failed to comply with the conditions for a derogation and, accordingly, has failed to fulfil its obligations under the Directive." I hope common sense will prevail and the majority of the citizens of Malta will welcome the courts ruling.

Colin Schembri

Sep 10th 2009, 10:38

L-ittra li batilna l-ex president nistaw naghmluha fi frame issa mela. Il-kacca fir-rebbiegha se tibqa ghal dejjem kien qal. HAHAHAHA.

Pamela Hansen

Sep 10th 2009, 10:36

I hope MEPA is going to remove this eyesore.

John Mallia

Sep 10th 2009, 10:33

I think it is a good news.. killing for fun is never right.

Lewis Mizzi

Sep 10th 2009, 10:29

Good! Little by little we're progressing towards a European mentality. Now let's start some action on noise pollution by banning festa petards.

R.Gatt

Sep 10th 2009, 10:27

Time to get another hobby guys. Lots of hobbies to choose from - falconeering, fishing, rambling, trekking, .....or better still paragliding?

Adrian Cachia

Sep 10th 2009, 10:24

Hurray!!!