Matthew Xuereb
Government still studying ECJ ruling
The government was studying the European Court of Justice's ruling on spring hunting and would act in strict conformity with it, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told hunters during a meeting at Castille last week.
The meeting was held with the Għaqda Kaċċaturi San Umbertu (St Hubert Hunters' Association) as a follow-up to another meeting the group had with Dr Gonzi four months ago.
The ECJ ruled against Malta's decision to allow spring hunting between 2004 and 2007 but the judgment was hailed as a landmark by both the pro and anti-hunting lobby groups.
It established the principle that autumn hunting for quail and turtle dove was not a "satisfactory alternative" to spring hunting and this has opened up the possibility that the government will apply for a spring hunting derogation under the Birds' Directive.
In its reaction to the ECJ ruling, the government did not commit itself to a solution but simply said it was examining the judgment to determine what options it had available to open the spring hunting season in a "limited and strict" way.
A solution may lie in the form of a closely monitored quota, establishing the maximum number of quails and turtle doves that could be shot in spring. This suggestion has, however, been shot down by BirdLife Malta, which said the government was only trying to give hunters "false hope".
It said the ECJ ruling referred to the number of birds that were reported killed by hunters and found these were excessive although the figures were "gravely underestimated".
When contacted, Mark Mifsud Bonnici, from the Għaqda Kaċċaturi San Umbertu, said Dr Gonzi told them the government was studying the possibly of exercising the derogation.
He said the association put forward a number of proposals on how the season could be opened in spring within the parameters of the Birds' Directive. It also made its recommendations on how enforcement could be boosted.
Mr Mifsud Bonnici said the ECJ did not exclude the possibility of hunting in spring. On the contrary, the Birds' Directive allowed spring hunting but under specific and controlled conditions.
"This is what the ECJ ruled against Malta. It did not find Malta guilty of opening the spring hunting season but that it opened the season outside these conditions. It said the season in Malta was too long," he said.
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Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Oct 13th 2009, 12:37
"we are well aware that any bird that flies over malta protected or not will be shot as soon it is withen shooting range" Mr/Ms I Borg first you write such sweeping statements and then invite me to join you!! Listen, Sir/Madam, my time is precious and I enjoy spending it with level-headed, non-extremist, respectful and tolerant individuals!
Mr Carmel James, have YOU actually carried out a survey to substantiate your negation of there being thousands of law-abiding hunters?! Well, Sir, there are over 13,000 hunters, yet only a couple of hundred poachers have been reported. What is so difficult to comprehend?
"are you out with them in the field?" Well Sir, that is n... of your b.......! One thing I assure you, I would prefer spending my time with law-abiding hunters rather than extremist and disrespectful anti-hunting individuals!!!
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Oct 13th 2009, 11:03
You are back with your childish methods Mr Greenfinch!! Yes indeed I adore animals, however I respect the human-being above all. Hunters have a right to enjoy their traditional pastime. Furthermore, turtle-doves and quails are game and are therefore consumed, similar to beef, pork, chicken, rabbits, etc. So where exactly is the hypocrisy, Sir?! It is also opportune to mention that amongst the anti's there are those who are in favour of abortion!! I have also been questioning for a long time whether CABS officials love CATS and other animals besides birds. So Sir, if you want to be honest, you will realise on which side hypocrisy is found!!!
Mr Ray Mangion, your example is very, very poor!!! It shows how ill-informed you are about the subject of hunting.
l borg
Oct 13th 2009, 08:38
to mr paul ferrugia
you are right that the picture of the dead marsh harrier was not the one shot by the maltese hunter
however it is not uncommon that different pictures are used in reports in the media and not just by birdlife
but this does not mean the story is not true
we are well aware that any bird that flies over malta protected or not will be shot as soon it is withen shooting range
you together with slyvana zarb darmanin are free to come with me to see with your own eyes
tell the times for my email they are free to give it to you
joseph lia
Oct 12th 2009, 20:56
@Ray Mangion, the article is about government still studying the ECJ ruling, this ruling was about SPRING HUNTING for turtledove and quail, such is your anti hunting agenda that you even mentioned bird trapping! Bird trapping had NOTHING to do with the ECJ ruling.
The bird trapper would never dream of killing or poaching protected birds, the law abiding hunter would NEVER dream of killing or poaching protected birds. FULL STOP.
Poaching, all over the world, is organized crime, hence the joint statement by FKNK and BLM to set up a Wildlife Crime Unit, so as to break this ring of crime. As for bird trapping government has allowed the trapping (with nets) of 4 species and will consider other measures for finch trapping too, also in line with EU regulations as stipulated in Article 9. of the Birds Directive, and yes all within the legal framework.
carmel james
Oct 12th 2009, 20:39
sylvana, how do you know that there are thousands of law abiding hunters.....are you out with them in the field? did you carry out a survey?.....i know that there are law abiding hunters who simply despise illegal hunting....a hunter friend of mine not so long ago forwarded me 2 injured purple herons shot at by hunters. His dog found them in the cornfields and he was simply disgusted.
I can assure you that such occurences of illegal hunting is a regular thing, although they have decreased recently. But dont bet on it that if law enforcement starts lacking again illegal hunting wont increase.
John Matthews
Oct 12th 2009, 20:21
Here in the UK quail is a very expensive item on the restaurant menu, likewise quails eggs. What would Birdlife say if the general population started to "rob" the quails nests of their eggs? Would they then start a campain against birdsnesting(taking of eggs)? afterall we take hens eggs.
V Falzon
Oct 12th 2009, 20:15
@Anthony Formosa "BLM should be thrown out from any negotiations"
What are you afraid of, Mr Formosa? That BirdLife will keep putting obstacles in the hunters' path? Well you are right actually. BirdLife is committed to ensuring that the hunting horde is kept within check, not for any personal vendetta, but because hunting is the second (after habitat destruction) biggest threat to wild birds in Malta.
Anton Portelli
Oct 12th 2009, 18:19
@ Ray Mangion.......If Mr Mangion's argument has any value the first thing the Prime Minister has to do is to ban all cars off the roads , start collecting them and crushing them for scrap!!!!
This will rid Malta of all the driving abuses and also of the fumes thus making a healthier environment for all of us and for the BIRDS too.
Can't you come up with some common sense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and not all this "HDURA", against the law abiding hunters. Maybe the Government can also ban football because we had some illegalities there and also horse racing because some jockies use the whip on the poor animals!!!!!!!!!
Edward camilleri
Oct 12th 2009, 17:41
the government continues to squander our money on something so distasteful when it can be used for something else, e.g.
the rarely used word conservation!!
Andrew Gatt
Oct 12th 2009, 15:34
Ara x'kien! The same old nagging from the same Ray Mangion. Ban, confiscate, punish, bla bla bla.
Sorry Ray, your comments are simply not worth replying to.
Max Sullivan
Oct 12th 2009, 15:17
Like it on not Hunting is embedded in our tradition as one of the most prominent passtimes. Therefore the law-abiding European hunters should be respected.
L. Attard
Oct 12th 2009, 14:30
@A.Formosa
You say "the majority shall not be deprived because of the few". I agree, but you obviously only see as far as your own interests is concerned. What about the majority of us who wish to see birds alive? We're not talking of a majority from a 17000 baseline here, but from 400,000.
And if you truly mean this even as far as hunting is concerned, why arent the law-abiding hunters themselves catching 'the few' who are so seriously threatening their pastime? Lets face it, if you are such a majority as you say, then when birds are illegally shot, there are surely quite a few of you about in the same patch of countryside. If not one occasion, on another. I know I would take action if my hobby (or way of life) was threatened! So deeds not just words if you expect the country to take you seriously! Unless of course the equation is different, and the minority cant catch the majority...
Ray Mangion
Oct 12th 2009, 13:59
@Anthony Formosa
I think you have calculated you figures wrongly. If the illegal hunters were only a few, there would not be such a fuss. It is those hunters who are trying to abide by the law who should approach their fellow friend hunters whom they know are breaking the law and like men they should report them. And if you think that hunters saved the land of massachre from being built, take a look around you. Do you think the MEPA and the government is going to leave reserved for hunting land because of hunters. Dream on. There is hardly any countryside left between villages, towns and cities. I remember when I was young our house was the only house between villages and surrounded by "RTO"s. Green areas were build by ministers to live in. Do you want me to go on?
@ Ms Sylvana Darmanin
I`m not attributing to anything ms Darmanin. I don`t approve of buthering innocent creatures by a sport that can be equally enjoyed through other means. How would you feel if someone shot you and then put you in a scolding couldron for fodder? Perish the thought!!
Chris Finch
Oct 12th 2009, 13:36
OK, MMB et al. Open Spring 'sitting in a brick box in camo-gear shooting little (and not so little raptors) birdies' so long as the millions of euros fine that the ECJ WILL impose on Malta is divided equally by the 14,000 or so 'law abiding' hunters and not the rest of the population.
Mrs Darmanin, could you please explain why you profess to be an animal lover and yet are so vociferous against the humble quail or turtle dove, going so far as to claim that anyone who wants to protect them are extremists? Dog fighting was once a socio-traditional passion amongst the dog-fighting fraternity and yet I have not heard you support this 'hobby' in any of your posts? I am confused at your hypocrisy.
That question is also open to any hunter who wants to explain why someone who wants to protect birds is an extremist? Wouldn't that also make your Lord Jesus an extremist? Maybe a priest would like to explain why he is teaching the word of an extremist every Sunday.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Oct 12th 2009, 13:05
I am afraid Mr Ray Mangion that the weakness is on your side!! Setting a line of taught/action and attributing it towards poachers only is what I call a weakness. A sound argument holds for every single illegality not just for the one YOU decided to attribute it too!
"if that were true and I would take it all back with humble apologies". Well, there are thousands of law-abiding hunters, hence I expect your humble apologies, that is if this is not another of your senseless statements!!!
G.Pisani
Oct 12th 2009, 12:53
Make all Guns illegal Dr.Gonzi. These guys are making a very bad name to our country, why are you defending them besides looking after your votes?
Joe Camilleri
Oct 12th 2009, 12:49
"The ECJ ruled against Malta's decision to allow spring hunting between 2004 and 2007 " WRONG Mr Matthew Xuereb, The ECJ ruled that Malta did not apply the derogation correctly. In fact we were not fined.
@ Mr Ray Mangion,
"If hunters have a shotgun..........will not be shot". Thanks for your trust. So I will not be wrong if I conclude that if people like your kind have a washing machine, a mattress etc…to throw away, you will go somewhere in the countryside and dispose of it there like what most of the Maltese do.
Anthony Formosa
Oct 12th 2009, 12:12
Birdlife had enough time to carry out scientific studies, instead of participating they called every effort by the government, FKNK, and KSU, RUBBISH. BLM should be thrown out from any negotiations.
@Mr Ray Mangion, first and foremost, if it was not for hunting, today Malta is deserted. Thanks to hunting and trapping many land was saved from speculators. Your argument shows your level of extremism against hunting, because that's what they made you to believe. Hunting rules are observed by the majority and the majority shall not be deprived because of the few, as in all other sectors, there are the good and the bad.
You Quoted, "We are not a country who are known to go by the rules. Many of us break them for selfish reasons and the good people suffer a bad name with the rest." MAY I ASK YOU ON WHICH SIDE YOU ARE? AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED ONLY CHILDREN ARE INNOCENT. Please correct me if I'm wrong, and give me ONLY ONE sector where there is no abuse.
paul farrugia
Oct 12th 2009, 11:44
@
We are not a country who are known to go by the rules. Many of us break them for selfish reasons and the good people suffer a bad name with the rest.
We are not a country who says the truth, just look at this web-site,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKTvz-2pkpc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rempRW1Vj_c&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5L4O8ZJ8P4&feature=related
The truth the whole truth and nothing but the whole truth.
Ray Mangion
Oct 12th 2009, 11:35
@ Misfud Bonnici
We are all law breakers in one way or another and don`t tell me you are pure!! You are accusing me to be an extremist: that is your opinion sir. No one has the right to kill innocent helpless and tired migrating birds for pleasure. Wake up sir, can`t you see that what you are bitching about is all around you? If not, you must be living on another planet
@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
"The law-abiding hunter has every right to enjoy his pastime and this within the parameters of the law". Wow that`s a big statement. That would be wonderful if that were true and I would take it all back with humble apologies. We have to agree to differ Ms Darmanin, because my line of "taught?" focuses on innocent creatures who have to right to live like you and me. Using other man made abuses has nothing to do with what I`m writing about. That is extremely weak Ms Darmanin
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Oct 12th 2009, 11:02
Mr Ray Mangion, your argument is ridiculously weak I must say! The law-abiding hunter has every right to enjoy his pastime and this within the parameters of the law. If one had to take your suggestion to ban hunting because of lack of enforcement, we might end up spending our lives locked up at home as illegalities are present in all sectors of society, starting from the Judiciary, the Church, drivers, etc. Applying your line of taught we will not be allowed to practise anything because of the illegalities in our midst!
"are not going to get up so early in the mornings only to shoot quails and turtle doves" Such a statement shows how ill-informed you are Sir. You must realise that the turtle doves' and quails' hunting season is truly loved and enjoyed by the true hunter. The shot game is then cooked and enjoyed!
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Oct 12th 2009, 10:34
Mr. Mangion.
Can I call YOU a law breaking citizen just because other citizens break the law?
Using your yardstick we should ban an destroy anything that could be used to break the law. just because some people abuse.,
HOW ABOUT STARTING WITH CARS?.
It is because of people of your sort that extremism is not tolerated anywhere in the world. According to you "We are not a country who are known to go by the rules." ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE PEOPLE OF YOUR SORT?
Ray Mangion
Oct 12th 2009, 10:02
I cannot understand why partial hunting for quail and turtle doves is still allowed. The European Court of Justice must be mad to think that our hunters will only shoot those birds. If hunters have a shotgun in their hands and see other migrating protected birds, does anyone think that these birds will not be shot down? Look at the number of protected birds shot this season, law or no law ,they still got shot down. Hunters are just trigger happy and are not going to get up so early in the mornings only to shoot quails and turtle doves. The only solution to this abuse is to ban all shotgun licences and collect all shotguns to be destroyed. Same goes for bird trappers. We are not a country who are known to go by the rules. Many of us break them for selfish reasons and the good people suffer a bad name with the rest.