Hunters urge PM to announce hunting decision

Thousands of hunters and trappers and their families are undergoing psychological torture, as they tensely await the Prime Minister's decision to apply a spring-hunting derogation in terms of the EU "Birds" Directive and the verdict of the European Court of Justice, the hunters' federation (FKNK) said this afternoon.

"Dr. Lawrence Gonzi is expected imminently to declare the opening and closing dates of a limited hunting and trapping period for the turtle dove and the quail, as recommended by the Malta Ornis Committee on 15 March 2010," the federation said.

It said that despite promises by the government on the continuation of hunting after EU membership, spring hunting was banned in 2008 and 2009, because of a European Court of Justice (ECJ) case against Malta. Since then the hunters and trappers had suffered psychologically in silence, with tragic consequences in some cases.

The ECJ final verdict of 10 September 2009 vindicated the hunters' arguments. Notwithstanding years of misleading propaganda by the anti-hunting lobby, Malta was free to make use once more of a spring hunting derogation, as other member states do.

The federation pointed out that on November 4, 2009 Dr. Gonzi had declared in parliament that applying a spring-hunting derogation was a right he would exercise. Dr Gonzi had also publicly declared that he would abide by the Court's decision.

"Therefore, he now has both an ethical duty as well as a moral duty to act on his own declarations. The argument of the anti-hunting lobby against the application of a derogation amounts to a collective punishment, and is as unjust as it is invalid. We refute this argument, and we urge Dr. Gonzi to respect the rule of EU law which does not admit of collective punishment. The onus is on his government to ensure that an adequate framework is set up to oversee the correct implementation of a derogation."

The FKNK said that after six months of consultation with the EU Commission, something which he did not have to do, Dr Gonzi's hesitation in announcing the opening and closing dates of a limited hunting period created unnecessary tension.

This issue will not go away or be forgotten, and the FKNK will make certain of that," the federation said.

"Dr Gonzi is duty-bound to satisfy, without further delay, the legitimate expectations of Malta's hunters and trappers, which now carry the stamp of the EU's highest legal body."