Hunters' 'limited' season: double the tally

M. Cardona

Mar 1st 2010, 20:50

Birdlife Malta and their Macchiavellian ethics; "the end justifies the means"!

Johnny Xerri

Mar 1st 2010, 18:17

@ Lorraine Vella, I will gladly hang up my gun and catridges when, hunting is banned throughout the world and when slaughter houses are closed down. Do you believe only birds have a right to live. What about the fish who live just like birds, out in the open? What about the farm animals? As for clay shooting I practice that as well, waste of money were it not good as practice!!! They don't cook well. They do not require land managment and planting of trees. I prefer looking after my trees and hunting for 6 months, then destroying habitat for building or intensive agriculture and then going clay shooting. Why should I change a hobby which even the ECJ deemed as having no impact and gave the go ahead so that govt. may reopen a season?

Lino Farrugia

Mar 1st 2010, 13:10

cont... BirdLife International archives and websites BirdLife Malta reports for Maltese bird-migration Other acknowledged scientific sources, with annotated details supplied All figures, estimates, and data are taken from the sources above-mentioned. If these sources are genuine and correct, so are the FKNK figures, and contrary to what Mr. Temuge wanted others to believe, North American figures are totally omitted from the calculations, and YES Mr. Temuge the European populations are used. And finally the last straw clinging, and back to scaremongering tactics. We will just quote what another journalist had written on the day of the ECJ verdict: "Malta also faces the prospect of punitive fines should it be found guilty of having infringed the Wild Birds Directive for the four years running, and many have speculated such fines could be high enough to be in the seven-figure region.” Secretary - FKNK

Lino Farrugia

Mar 1st 2010, 13:06

We have already sent a reply letter to these incorrect BirdLife Malta (BLM) accusations, besides strongly deploring BLM unethical approach. The FKNK is NOT proposing to double the number of birds that can be shot over Malta. The figures quoted by the journalist only form part of the ‘Justifications’ workings for the proposals. In fact in the same proposals it is stated that the figures used to justify the proposals are a long way from the actual harvest obtained from the official figures of MEPA for years 2004 – 2007. “The ECJ ruled against Malta but conceded that the autumn season, in principle, did not really offer an alternative to spring”, the ECJ ruled that in the particular case of Malta, autumn hunting does not offer a satisfactory alternative solution to spring hunting. The FKNK proposals are based on the latest information provided by the following entities: The EU Commission Guidance Document on the Birds Directive The IUCN – International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources The EU Commission Management Plan for the Turtle dove (Streptopelia Turtur) 2007-2009 The EU Commission Management Plan for the Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) 2009-2011 to cont...

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Mar 1st 2010, 10:14

Lorraine Vella, what do you have to say about BLM's disclosure of confidential information? Have you actually read this article? I believe your extremist views have blinded you. As for your "plates/plattini", should they use bone-china ones or porcelain ones?!!

Lorraine Vella

Mar 1st 2010, 10:04

For God's sake... LET BIRDS LIVE!!! They have a right to live, just like us. Why don't hunters use plates/plattini instead?

Henry Fenech Azzopardi

Feb 28th 2010, 22:00

I was the first to let the general public know that, what was confidentially proposed in camera, to be discussed next wednesday, was leaked to the press for birdlife advantage.

None of the antis had the guts to comment on my accusations.

It is obvious that they are all in favour of the shameful approach taken by someone at birdlife.

Lino Farrugia was prudent enough to stop giving his reactions since these proposals are confidential. I have also refrained from giving my comments.

As a member of the ORNIS I shall be filing my objection as to how everytime that an hot item is put on the agends for discussion it finds its way through the media and birdlife will be all out to try and influence the public and the officials in the ORNIS with their biased interpretation.

The antis should voice their disapproval if they want to be credible. Items on the ORNIS agenda should first be discussed and dealth with in committee and after a decision is taken all section of the press will have every right to a public debate.

Whatever has been written by birdlife should be disregarded by committee members for a democratic conclusion.

Patrick Spiteri

Feb 28th 2010, 20:34

I just love to read bits by people with strange names [foreign] for that matter.The name calling, The I'm Holier than thou attitude .....to us the unwashed hoards and masses.
and woe the end is near attitude of these people. And who will pay the fines [this one must be the treasurer]and the bag limit issue now .........ah the bag limit in all my hunting years it has varied from 1 t.dove to 25 the pinnicle of my hunting carreer...mind you that is in a whole season not in a day.It can be tripled but it wont make a difference because 25 is not even 1 a day for when the season was from 10 th april to 21 may some 43 days in all.
Some others bag more but you have to have a good place too. Quails are non existant for me .[and many others]why ...no dog no quail....simple. Other countries who shoot in autumn ,bury us in their numbers[catch,bag, whatever ] by the tens of thousands
so like the famous comedian Lee Evans says ''What's the difference''

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Feb 28th 2010, 20:20

It has been mentioned in online comments that BLM's membership includes kindergarten students BUT now we can see that grown-up members of BLM are acting in the same manner as these young students! First they do not abide by the undertaking to respect the ECJ ruling, now they are disclosing confidential information to the media! I believe there must be guidelines as to how the ORNIS Committee should operate, including some form of undertaking by members declaring confidentiality and secrecy. What is the Government waiting for, to take the necessary action against those breaching such conditions?!

r sammut

Feb 28th 2010, 18:36

Typical of BirdLife bulling everything and everyone in their path to have it their way! Nothing bars them to speak foul: of Malta, or its police, or the Prime Minister, or as lately of the judiciary system. The agreement to respect the ECJ ruling signed by both BLI and FACE, come what may, has been long since forgotten by our BLM.

‘Ethical?’ this term has never and will never form part of any BLM behaviour. Then since their foreign management team took the helm, they are leaning further at becoming more arrogant.

john borg

Feb 28th 2010, 17:44

Hmmmmm...
""If Birdlife is right, this alone could mean that Malta can end up before the court again should the government open the season.""

Malta ended up before the ecj...and birdlife was wrong!!!!
if it will end again before the ecj because birdlife is wrong again!!!!

Birdlife always messed up the numbers...from millions of birds flocking over islands.....to spring seasons without reporting any quails and turtle doves......and now an increase of 800% in migratory small birds!!!!!

Johnny Xerri

Feb 28th 2010, 17:43

On a recent Times of Malta article Birdlife Malta stated that song birds are increasing. We also heard from BLM that various birds are breeding since the 2008 & 2009 ban on spring hunting.

Simple logic tells me that the birds that opted to raise a brood in Malta during 2008 did so during May and June. However, the next autumn hunting was allowed. Such birds could have been hunted by poachers. The same applied to 2009.

So if hunters shoot at anyhing as BLM and J Oatman say, how come birds managed to increase their presence in Malta because of a spring ban, when the next autumn they could have been killed.

BLM also stated that the coot managed to breed in Malta. For those who don't know, the coot is a legal game bird. Again if hunters kill 'anything that flies' how come a game bird managed to breed?

Do hunters kill everything or not? If they do how come certian birds increased their presence.
Its either BLM are misguiding the public when they say that thanks to spring hunting ban birds are breeding. Or they are misguiding them when they claim hunters shoot at anything.

Johnny Xerri

Feb 28th 2010, 17:34

J Oatman,

In each an every post be it hunting, be it of any other nature, you always seem to take pleasure in discrediting Malta.

Well mate if you are unhappy about the situation in Malta feel free to reside in any of the remaining EU26 member states. I believe from the 27 member states only Malta bothers you.

As for the police turning a blind eye, I already told you in previous posts, if you know of such occassion when the police failed to do their duty, please report such events to; the police commissioner, ombudsman, ministry of justice and to the media. If your just parroting please change the tune and learn other tunes.

Chris Finch

Feb 28th 2010, 17:08

This is truly bird-brained thinking and would only be accepted by a bird brained government.

So when the ECJ demands Malta explain its increased bag limits and slaps a big fine on us, will the hunters gallantly step forward and offer to pay for their bloodlust?

One thing is certain, it seems that the government will open the 2010 season after pressure from the minority killers, but I think we can rest assured that this will undoubtedly be the last.

THe hunting federations know this and this is why they have come up with this number.

Edward Camilleri

Feb 28th 2010, 14:52

Good, the previous spring hunting season's were found to be illegal by the ECJ and doubling the tally is ok? Is this how FKNK is interpreting 'limited'?

Johnny Xerri

Feb 28th 2010, 13:18

Birdlife said this and Birdlife said that....

What is the use of the ornis-committee if Birdlife expect to have a monopoly and that only their opinion counts???

Pre-referendum and pre-election amongst the other things that hunters were promised through the manifesto that brought victory to PN there was that:

1.Spring hunting would continue.
2.Future hunting regulations would favour hunters.
3.Hunters would have a say on the opening of seasons and on the regulations that governed hunting.

BLM cannot even be trusted with the moral and ethical responsibility of not divulging the ornis-committee minutes and agenda. Any proposal that hunters put forward are ridiculed and the only proposition that BLM have come up with is 'ban'.

And by the way it is very funny of BLM to request that only the population of the EU birds should be taken into consideration, when they made their petition against hunting in Malta available on a world wide scale (obviously to beef it up).

So it does make a difference if the birds live in S.America and have no connection with Europe.
But it makes no difference if a S.American person without any connection with Europe petitions.

John Formosa

Feb 28th 2010, 13:07

Just a simple question...intended as food for thought. How come that for tens of years Maltese and other European citizens have practiced spring hunting and turtle dove and quail populations never declined and now Birdlife Malta and International are saying that these two species need protection? I can understand and go in line with all arguments sustaining protection in breeding grounds....but hey, be reasonable...we have had a couple of closed seasons here and how many turtle doves did stop here to raise their brood? Don't mesh around with poaching because it is a widespread phenomenon. From where would turle doves and quails find the appropriate food to raise their brood. Our fauna lacks of such resources. So be realistic.....

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Feb 28th 2010, 12:53

BIRDLIFE MALTA

What Birdlife should note before conveniently rushing to their own conclusions is that the IUCN data is compiled by no less then Birdlife International, (Bird, J., Butchart, S.(BirdLife International)

The IUCN reference to:

TURTLE DOVE http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/143492/0
QUAIL http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/141271/0

"This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern."

cont/....

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

Feb 28th 2010, 12:53

As for the Guidance document being referred to this is the Guidance document on hunting under Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds “The Birds Directive”.

This guide specifiaclly states:

"LIMITS OF THE GUIDE

The guide is intended to be bound by and faithful to the text of the Directive and the
wider principles underpinning Community environmental law. It is not legislative in
character (not making new rules but providing guidance on the application of those
that exist). As such this document reflects only the views of the Commission services
and is not of a binding nature.

It should be stressed that it rests with the EU Court of Justice to provide definitive
interpretation of a Directive. Therefore, the guidance provided will need to evolve
in line with any emerging jurisprudence on this subject.

The guide intends to fully respect the existing case law of the Court, which is already
quite extensive. This determines aspects of the guide, especially where clear positions
have already been established by the Court."

ARE BIRDLIFE NOW TRYING TO DISCREDIT THE "clear positions
already established by the Court."

J Oatmon

Feb 28th 2010, 12:17

From past experience we know that many of the bird shooters, will disregard any instructions or laws, and shoot whatever birds cross their paths, as usual.
All theoretical (or any other proposed limits, or plans or whatever), are a complete farce anyway (no one in Malta believes the bird shooters will obey any instructions or laws), even the police turn a blind eye to the illegal bird shooters (how many have been prosecuted for the frequent illegal shooting of protected birds?).

Henry Fenech Azzopardi

Feb 28th 2010, 11:36

As usual items still confidential and subject to discussions at ORNIS finds its way to the media for Birdlife to gain support and influnence ORNIS members in their vote if this neccessary to be taken next Wednesday.

What a shame. Is it that possibel that to gain advantage Birdlife have to refer to such tactics?

It is irresponsible unethical and unfair for whoever leaked the information which at the moment is strictly confidential.