BirdLife demands publication of delayed hunting figures
BirdLife Malta today demanded that before any spring hunting decision is announced the government must publish the number of birds shot and trapped in 2008, questioning the reasons for the delay.
The carnet de chasse 2008 report was due for publication last year, but repeated requests by BirdLife during Ornis meetings and directly to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to make the records public were ignored. The latest request was made April 1 but no reply was forthcoming.
BirdLife Malta also drew attention to the fact that the European Commission has also not received the report.
BirdLife Malta executive director Tolga Temuge said: “We have always stated that the carnet de chasse is a gross underestimation of the true scale of hunting.
However, since the government based its defence at the European Court of Justice on the figures hunters provided, and since the government is planning to open another spring hunting season based on the previous years’ carnet de chasse figures, then it is crucial that the data is made public for the necessary scrutiny to be made.”
BirdLife Malta raised the possibility that figures, even if under-reported, did not paint the picture the government expected.
“Bird sightings from 2008 clearly showed that during the autumn migration, following the first ever spring hunting ban that year, the number of common quails that migrated over Malta were significantly higher than in spring.
If this were revealed in the figures, it would crush the government’s argument that autumn was not a satisfactory alternative to spring hunting,” Mr Temuge added.
Since the government presented a derogation plan to the European Commission last month, it was strange that the figures for 2008 had not yet been handed over to the Commission, BirdLife Malta said.
Malta had used carnet de chasse figures from the past until 2007, when it attempted to justify the spring hunting derogation at the European Court of Justice.
Based on the low figures presented by Malta, the Court stated that autumn hunting did not seem to be an alternative to spring.
Malta still lost the case at the ECJ since the country did not meet other conditions needed for a derogation, BirdLife said adding that the government, however, decided to interpret the ECJ ruling as offering the opportunity to open another spring hunting season.
BirdLife Malta said that regardless of the ‘alternative solution’ condition for a derogation, both turtle dove and common quail were listed as Species of Conservation Concern in Europe.
Thus, no derogation should be applied according to the European Commission's own hunting guide to the Birds Directive, it said.
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Fabian Borg
Apr 8th 2010, 13:46
If Birdlife are such good bird observers how come none of their members openly took part in the Government Project Scientific Study which took part between 2007 and 2009 where observers were employed to count bird sightings during Autumn and Spring of those years.
This study, which was sure to uncover the truth about Turtle Dove and Quail migration in the Maltese Islands, was even ridiculed by Birdlife Malta who called it RUBBISH.
If the truth is Rubbish for Birdlife, I can stop there and rest my case.
Mario Farrugia
Apr 8th 2010, 05:33
Since bird shooters are claiming that insignificant numbers of quail and turtle doves migrate over Malta and barely shot at any during the oast years, then there should be no problem with abolishing spring shooting once and for all as not much is killed anyway....and maybe this would go some way in curing them from what seems like another addiction...
Maria Grima
Apr 8th 2010, 00:35
i think that birdlife is trying to exaggerate abit ,now. It's ironic to try and beleive that maltese hunters shoot an abnormal number of birds ,compared with other countries!How come tourist hunters never visit Malta ,with such 'oppurtunities to shoot many birds' as claimed by birdlife?It's simply logic to understand...
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Apr 7th 2010, 22:46
"Bird sightings from 2008 clearly showed that during the autumn migration, following the first ever spring hunting ban that year, the number of common quails that migrated over Malta were significantly higher than in spring."
AND WHAT ABOUT THE QUAIL IN 2009 AND ALL THE YEARS BEFORE THAT?
Birdlife are trying to imply that should quails be plentiful in autumn then there is no need to derogate in Spring.
SO IS SPRING HUNTING NO LONGER ILLEGAL?
FOR BIRDLIFE'S INFORMATION MANY AREAS IN MALTA DO NOT GET ANY QUAIL IN AUTUMN, NOT EVEN IN THE MYTHICAL MIGRATION OF 2008.
THIS IS PRECISELY WHY THE COURT STATED: CLAUSE61 "Moreover, it is not disputed by the Commission that, during that period, only a restricted part of the territory of that Member State is visited by the two bird species in question and that they migrate mainly at the end of August and during September."
This explains why derogation is possible.
Birdlife should train their big mouth, that so easily spreads nonsense, to swallow what the ECJ confirmed and conceded to Malta.
They have definitely earned the scorn of any decent person. Keep it up.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Apr 7th 2010, 20:34
"no derogation should be applied according to the European Commission's own hunting guide to the Birds Directive"
Page 5 of the hunting guide http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/hunting/docs/hunting_guide_en.pdf 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.
It recognises that the management of hunting is the responsibility of the Member
States, including their role in determine hunting seasons within their territory in
accordance with the requirements of the Directive.
CAN BIRDLIFE EVER BE HONEST IN WHAT THEY STATE. ONE HAS YET TO SEE SUCH VILE MISINTERPRETATION OF FACT.
IS THIS WHAT THEY INTENDED WHEN AGREEING TO RESPECT THE COURT JUDGEMENT
r sammut
Apr 7th 2010, 20:15
‘Bird sightings from 2008 clearly showed that during the autumn migration, following the first ever spring hunting ban that year, the number of common quails that migrated over Malta were significantly higher than in spring.’
Unlike other birds, quails cannot be seen in the vegetation if not flushed. When out hunting with dogs and I find it quite challenging to flush any quails! Yet I never met birdwatchers wondering about, certainly never with dogs, to make quail counts! How on earth can Mr Temuge then vouch on the higher number of quails in autumn 2008?
joseph lia
Apr 7th 2010, 20:04
Indeed Sept 08 will go down in birding history for the quail migration, huge influxes were observed daily, notwithstanding the fact that qauil are physically impossible to observe due to their ability to blend with the surroundings and one has to literally step on one to observe it fly away rapidly, unless one has a trained gun-dog which is specifically trained to do so. Having said that Sept 08 provided excellant wind shifts and climatic pressures for the quail to make landfall, hence the influx and obvious sightings. Nothing new! Sept 09 came and went, quail sightings were miserably low (check out also birdlifemalta website - sightings section), spring 09 was the second year with no legal hunting or trapping, facts show that there was no rapid increase in quails during autumn 09. Facts.
Andrew Gatt
Apr 7th 2010, 18:32
Bird Sightings - Source - BIRDLIFE MALTA'S WEBSITE
September 2008
Common Quail - 5 on 14th, influx on 27th - maximum 50+ (MLT, GOZ).
Turtle dove - simply listed as OTHER SPECIES recorded
October
Common Quail 1 - 2 on 4th and 7th (MLT, GOZ).
Turtle dove - NO MENTION. ANYWHERE
This information was extracted from Birdlife Malta's own website. Some main migratory flyway we're on! Mega passage of quail! And millions of turtle doves! U halluna. All you lot do is misinform and lie, in the hope that guillible fools like Simon Ciantar believe your nonsense and regurgitate it in public.
LIARS. Caught out again from your own website and by YOUR OWN figures. Tal-misthija.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Apr 7th 2010, 18:07
This news item looks like an "Irtirata" for me!! Tolga Temuge you are indeed clutching at straws! The ECJ has let you down. Stick to the undertaking now if you want to be considered as a true gentleman! The figures you are doubting have been accepted by the ECJ - so do you consider yourself above this high institution? Spring Hunting is possible for Malta (as confirmed by the EU itself). Well, if it makes you happy, put on your black t-shirt, look at a mirror and live in your world of make-believe. Meanwhile, Dr Gonzi is expected to give the Maltese hunters their legal right!
Simon Ciantar, birds of a feather flock together! 35,000 hunters?!! Similar to BLM's millions!!
Johnny Xerri
Apr 7th 2010, 17:58
@ Tony Pace
Hekk hu Mr Pace COME ON GET A LIFE...IMMA MHUX LIT TIGIEG, FNIEK, HUT, BAQAR, MOGHOZ, HRIEF, SUMMIEN TAS SIMNA, HAMMIEM TAL QATLA, PAPRI TAS SIMNA, SRIEDAQ, HNIEZER,++++
IMA AS SUR PACE LAQWA LI L GHASFUR BISS ANDU LIFE. MHUX HEKK. DAK BISS ANDU DRITT AL HAJJA.
Ara veru poplu bazwi li jrid juri kemm jifem f'kollox, u kemm hu tajjeb biex jerfa salib haddiehor, ima salibu hadd ma jerfaw. Hadd ma jejd miskin ima kullhadd jejd xbicca laham tal genn hadd il bierah.
Basta kilt u gbajt u fastidju l hadd ma tajt. Il kuxjenza safja ghax mhux jien qtilt ima tal laham. Demm fuqu mhux fuqi. Jien kemm halast.
How do the antis like their pound of flesh (or fillet?), rare, medium, or well done??
It seems only birds have a right to live. Not even wild fish attract so much support. Or should I say FUNDS.
Come on BLM publish those accounts with the info on wages and salaries. Scared of what they might show?
BLM demands....what a farce of an organisation...a couple of foriegners unable to stop hunting in their home land...
george gatt
Apr 7th 2010, 17:57
Published counts of birds shot and/or trapped and other such statistics do nothing to curb the number of birds shot and/or trapped. Such statistics are never accurate and are most often somewhat inflamed. It seems to me that it would make more sense to have a REGULATED open hunting/trapping season for licensed hunters and netters. For instance have odd number license holders hunt and/or net on odd days and even license holders hunt and/or net on even days. Also impose "daily and season bag limits" with harsh penalties. Most IMPORTANT the Authority Having Jurisdiction" MUST apply and enforce the law with the strictkest of discilpine. There will be those that break the law I am sure. However, the monies raised from due penalties could be used to fund such a program.
TONY PACE
Apr 7th 2010, 16:45
Hekk hu Mr Debono COME ON GET A LIFE...IMMA MHUX LIL GHASAFAR.
D.Caruana
Apr 7th 2010, 16:01
Simon Ciantar...
Stop misleading
Check your figures before you publish please!!!
R Agius
Apr 7th 2010, 15:54
Mr. Ciantar I think that your keyboard has some kind of problems in the 00000, or else it is you really exagerating, because there aren't 35000 hunters, and by the way can you please start learning some type of simple maths for some figures like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ruth Thompson
Apr 7th 2010, 15:52
@ Simon Ciantar
By your reasoning and maths no birds died in Malta in 2008 !!!!!
Lino Farrugia
Apr 7th 2010, 15:14
How can the Times permit such nonsense of Mr. Simon Cutajar be printed. 35,000 registered hunters!!!!
Last year 2009, 10,700 persons paid their hunting licenses.
Secretary - FKNK
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Apr 7th 2010, 14:56
Mr Tolga
Have'nt you realised yet that the judgment by the ECJ is final and there are no arguments to be crushed.
It is no use crying over split milk. Whatever figures were used in the ECJ, these same figures will be used to establish the bag quota per hunter and consequently the hunter will have the figures backfiring at him.
It is not true that Birdlife are the defence of the migratory bird. Their sole hatred is the hunter and birds are not their priority.
Two cases to proof my argument is that Birdlife were the only members on the ORNIS that voted in favour of the kiling of the turtle dove, quailm trush and plover instead of these being trapped for breeding.
Another instance that they prefer filming an illegal activity to make their point than trying to shoo off the bird before being shot.
SPRING HUNTING MUST BE DECLARED OPEN AND THE HUNTERS WITH ALL THOSE THAT HAVE A COMMON STAND AGAINST ILLEGAL HUNTING SHOULD MAKE THEIR PRESENCE FELT SO THAT BIRDLIFE WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO PINPOINT AGAINST THE HUNTERS.
SPRING HUNTING SHOULD BE FREE OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY TO CONFIRM THAT WE CAN HANDLE OUR PROBLEMS.
Simon Ciantar
Apr 7th 2010, 14:09
@Fabian Borg I really feel sorry for you - you must be starving with so little meat for the table ! Oh and by the way just for your information you are not the only hunter in Malta ! there are another 35000 ( registered ones that is ) so even if your figures are correct and taken as the mean - that means that extraploated the following birds were killed in Malta
Spring 2007- 175000 Turtle doves and 350 000Quals !!! wont even bother with the rest of the years everyone can do some simple maths - thanks for the confirmation of the slaughter going on !
Fabian Borg
Apr 7th 2010, 15:39
Get your facts right before you blab....
Registered hunters are closer to 17,000.
35,000 is your invention.
Also not all hunters have good places.
I am lucky enough to have a moderately good hunting ground and have good dogs.
Many hunters do not manage Quail cause they do not have the grounds for it.
Doves in Spring tend to visit more localities in Malta especially Morning Doves we call `Ta Bil-Lejl` and this offers an opportunity to most hunters in most places who make a good effort to take some shots unlike what happpens in Autumn where passage is less and more sporadic.
next please......
Fabian Borg
Apr 7th 2010, 15:44
By the way. If a person is lucky enough to win 100,000 Euro in a given week does that mean I can grab a calculator and multiply that figure by the weeks he lived and call him a multi millionaire ???
That is your reasoning and maths.
Why not try and spend more time in the countryside and start counting bird sightings.
Just make sure not to tresspass on private property......
I Cassar
Apr 7th 2010, 14:00
The info collected through the carnet de chasse is not reliable as the ones compiling it are the hunters, who are obviously biased. Recently we were given to understand that MEPA does not even verify the findings of the various reports it asks from applicants, and on which it bases its decisions of permit granting. If that is the case how can we believe that the info in the carnet de chasse is vetted in any way.
That government should think of it a reliable source of info is simply pathetic.
k. francica
Apr 7th 2010, 13:46
how can Birdlife's Quail sightings be a representation of the actual quail arrivals? I've never seen any BLM members out with dogs trying to flush quail. Aren't Birdlife aware that Spring quails, give a worthy challenge to most dogs before they take flight, flushing them without dogs in spring is next to impossible while in autumn they take flight more readily.
In this article Mr Temuge, is again trying to mislead the public when he stated that "If this were revealed in the figures, it would crush the government’s argument that autumn was not a satisfactory alternative to spring hunting,” Mr Temuge added. This was stated by the European Court of Justice.
Michael DeBono
Apr 7th 2010, 13:45
Mr Camilleri
I'm sorry for hurting your feelings then. But did I mention myself? Important element? Who? Me? Lol. I just said we're (referring to the whole maltese population) bored to death listening to Birdlife's tragic stories every day in the paper. Poooor fellas. They seem to need more money. Let's include them in this year's Istrina.
But anyway. Have a nice day.
paul fava
Apr 7th 2010, 13:45
in the past 10 years I declare by oath that I did not gather more than 50 turtle doves and 2 quails...........furthermore the Court of Justice has spoken and no governmental interpretation of this sentence can morally rob us of our fundamental right to perform our pastime legally.
Chris Galea
Apr 7th 2010, 13:41
Stop whining Tolga,the ECJ already refused your figures,stating that the best available data are the figures from the carnet de chasse...not birdlife's sightings.....and the case is closed so please..............
Fabian Borg
Apr 7th 2010, 13:23
Here is my documented bird count Birdlife.
Spring 2007 5 Turtle Doves and 10 Quails
Autumn 2007 1 Turtle Dove and 3 Quails
Spring 2008 Close Season NIL
Autumn 2008 0 Turtle Doves and 0 Quails
Spring 2009 Close Season NIL
Autumn 2009 1 Turtle Dove and 0 Quails
Conclusion
Amount caught in Spring (when legal) was a limited number which is in the nature of the Maltese Islands since we are NOT in any main migratory flyway.
The amounts caught in Autumn for three years running is nowehere near to Satisfactory.
I must add that effort and shooting precision was the maximum in all open seasons.
Apart from the fact that as mentioned AD NAUSEA the PN and the OPM and the MIC openly affirmed that Spring Hunting would continue and this was no electoral promise valid for 5 years this was an affirmation ad infinitum.
Start defrosting some more carcasses for your next scoop......
g.c.Forte
Apr 7th 2010, 17:04
Fabian Borg... Don`t you think that it is time to change your hobby............how about collecting stamps, play chess, ludo, how about sky diving so you feel like a bird. Bungy jumping is good, but be careful not to hit the ground, because you will be experiencing of how a bird will feel when hits the ground, when you shoot it .
P. Camilleri
Apr 7th 2010, 13:13
@Michael DeBono
Yeah sure, you're such an important element in this world that whatever you say has to be deemed as gospel and birds and other animals can be killed for pleasure, just because you or your fellow pals deem so. You should go get a life, and let the birds live.
Michael DeBono
Apr 7th 2010, 12:52
Dejjem l-istess kantaliena. Dejjem qisha ha taqa d-dinja meta taqra xi artiklu taghhom. Imsieken. Allahares ma kienux jezistu l-Birdlife ghax kieku ma nafx kif kienet timxi l-quddiem id-dinja. Come on. Get a life.