Ariadne Massa
More than 1,300 illegal acts in 3 weeks - Birdlife Malta
Masked men attack birdwatchers again
This birdwatchers' car was vandalised in Dingli yesterday.
Hunters' illegal behaviour during the six-day spring hunting season has provided ample ammunition for the EU to penalise Malta, according to Birdlife Malta and the Committee Against Bird Slaughter.
More than 1,300 illegal acts were recorded during Birdlife's three-week spring watch camp between April 11-30, while some 260 illegal hunting and trapping incidents were registered outside the permitted hours of the six-day season that closed last Friday.
Footage recording these violations - shown to the media yesterday - and a detailed report will be presented to the European Commission in the coming days. Birdlife and Cabs said yesterday they were expecting Brussels to take action against Malta for failing to abide by the derogation's rules.
"We have been proved right. We expect the Commission to take action against Malta for failing to meet the conditions under the Birds Directive, including strict supervision," Birdlife president Joe Mangion said at a press conference.
Spring hunting has been in the balance since Malta joined the EU in 2004. The European Court of Justice last year ruled Malta had breached the Birds Directive by allowing spring hunting, yet it felt autumn was not a satisfactory alternative.
Consequently, the government ventured to open a scaled-down spring hunting season that was criticised by hunters and environmentalists alike.
Birdwatchers say they have had a tough job monitoring the situation. The Cabs team yesterday claimed it came under attack again yesterday morning, this time by five people wearing balaclavas who ambushed their car and threw large stones at them in Dingli. A report was filed at the Rabat police station.
"I am very worried about the situation," Cabs spokesman Axel Hirschfeld said, adding his team had only been able to cover five per cent of the island, while Gozo was not monitored.
"Despite all their good intentions, the police could only deal with a fraction of the illegal hunting incidents. Some of the poachers might have been encouraged by the laughable penalties that have been given to illegal hunters and trappers in the past years," he added.
Mr Hirschfeld called on the government to revise minimum penalties and to ensure repeat offenders were severely dealt with. He also pointed out that the police had no database for repeat offenders.
Mr Mangion said police had reported that only 16 special licences had been issued. However, there were 640 observed cases of hunting with 1,305 shots heard during the morning of the six-day season.
"Only one hunter we came across during the open season had a licence - the rest were hunting illegally. While the government did everything it could to open a spring hunting season, many hunters did things their own way, showing no respect for the law," he said.
The violations recorded include hunting from rooftops, the use of illegally modified shotguns in over 100 cases, targeting protected species as well as active trapping.
When asked how the government could realistically deal with such a highly politicised issue, Mr Mangion insisted the first step was to enforce the law.
"This year should have been a test for the government. The least it could have done was enforce the law, yet there was no adequate police response, transmitting the message that anything goes," he said.
"We are not out to ban hunting. Hunters have five months to enjoy their pastime in autumn."
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Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 3rd 2010, 11:06
Phil Humphries, I must say you missed the point completely. My point actually is that NODOBY has a right to exaggerate figures, take over OUR police duties, send non-documented reports to the foreign media or give a distorted picture to the EU in order to reach its goal! We find illegalities in other sector of society, illegalities with higher percentage than that of poaching.
And btw, I never expected you to side with the Maltese. Actually, I was referring to the Maltese individual who is doing harm to OUR country. I DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE A PLACE WITH US!! Try and do what Joe Mangion is shamefully doing to HIS country and start doing harm to YOUR country if you agree so much about it!!
M. Cardona
May 2nd 2010, 22:25
Birdlife Malta has repeatedly been proven a deceitful NGO.
FACTS.......
Hunting is not permitted in spring in EU- FALSE
Trapping is not permitted in EU- FALSE
Malta would be fined in 2009 ECJ proceedings- FALSE
Migratory birds usually hunted or trapped would breed in Malta- FALSE
"We are not out to ban hunting"- FALSE
Malta on a major migratory path - FALSE
Malta an important migratory refuelling site- FALSE (i.e. if illegal migration is not in the equation, and those foreigners refuelling on FUNDED SALARIES)
Millions, then downscaled to hundreds of thousands and then to thousands- FALSE
These and so many other claims have repeatedly been proven to be FALSE. Others as half truths, misconceptions or outright lies. You are the ones who should be dragged to court and held accountable for your disgusting and deceitful attitudes.
Mr Government please wake up and smell the coffee, you will never ever please these hunter haters no matter how much you try to appease them!
And all true Maltese let's at least unite on one thing.....OUT with these BLM, CABS, LIPU, RSPB, LPO networking trouble instigators and false profets of perdition.
eric mamo
May 2nd 2010, 20:34
@ Henry Fenech Azzopardi. Birdlife are after money. when one campaign ends they will adopt another cause , abolish all hunting. wake up! One fisherman was prosecuted for using his boat to retrieve a shot teal in september as a favour to a shooter. the charge: he had no licence to catch a wild game bird and the charge was made at the instigation of a birdlife photographer. This is pure vindictiveness and the government a willing agent.
@ Gonzi: Birdlife is a business pure and simple and the sooner the government realises that letting birdlife draft the laws only leads to greater risk of EU fines the better. Stop subsidising your enemy and making enemies of all hunters and trappers. The Government was very effective in law enforcement this spring and yet CABS and birdlife are not satisfied, if they were the contributions from gullible abolitionists would dry up.
Anne Brightly
May 2nd 2010, 20:11
I cannot understand how this pointless killing of birds in Malta can be stated to be a sport. Who believes this? It is ridiculous. How can these poacher-men be so convinced of their doing? Are they planning to make it olympic? All this is extremely disgusting.
Andrew Gatt
May 2nd 2010, 21:07
Excuse me, Anne, I thought you were referring to UK citizens here - from the Royal Family downwards! To an industry that generates hundreds of millions in revenue. And to a country that shoots on something or other 365/24/7. And to one which has has no problem in accepting the money hundreds of thousands of shooters - myself included - from other countries. With shooting bags running into the MANY MILLIONS EACH YEAR.
The UK shoots huge numbers of pheasant, grouse, teal, widgeon, mallards, rooks, crows, canada geese, greylag geese, pinkfoot geese, collared doves, herring gulls, partridge, woodcock, deer, rabbit, hare, woodpigeon, jays, magpies, grey squirrel, foxes etc. NEVER A WORD ABOUT IT!! And all this fuss about Malta is for 2 GAME BIRDS called quail and turtle dove.
Indeed, how can this be termed a sport! In your country it should be termed BIG PROFITS and your attitude should be termed HYPOCRITICAL.
John Matthews
May 2nd 2010, 19:04
C'mon Birdlife, act like adults and not spoiled brats. You have accused hunters of carrying out acts of vandalism and assault. Where's your PROOF. Put up or shut up or can't you stomach being put to shame?
r sammut
May 2nd 2010, 19:03
Poaching is anything but silent! Shots can be heard for quite a distance giving it away quite easily. BLM/CABS are making mountains out of mole hills, incessantly pressuring the police with even trivialities. This is constraining the countries’ force. While BLM’s claims of irregularities will never ever diminish!
CABS are renowned for being victimised in every country they set foot on! Are they the humble guardian angels they depict themselves to be, or just plain extremists on confrontation missions? Considering their past claims to rid Malta of hunting… completely!
Then other crimes are all so silent and secretive in there occurrences. Many places which previously used to be frequented by hunters have now turned into drug addicts’ paradise. http://forum.huntinginmalta.org.mt//YaBB.pl?num=1272734384
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
May 2nd 2010, 18:17
Dear Mr Givanni Francesco di Bernardone,
You have it all wrong BIRDLIFE do not want to abolish hunting. They just want to abolish SPRING HUNTING to save the illegal hunting of Spring Migration but it is okay with BIRDLIFE to hunt in Autumn. As if protected birds in Autumn are not protected at all.
Also Mr too long like mine, what makes you the owner of turtle doves and quais. If they are yours to be seen they are mine to be captured because the law entitles me as anywhere in the world. You have much more days to watch these birds than we hunters have..
Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone
May 2nd 2010, 22:34
Neither you nor me own these beautiful creatures, only God does.
God bless you and all hunters.
God bless the birds.
May all sentient beings live in harmony and balance.
Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone
May 2nd 2010, 16:45
Protect our birds - ban hunting now!
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
May 2nd 2010, 16:21
Dear Mr Joe Mangion,
I think it is about time you recommend the insurance companies in Malta to introduce the escape clause with regards the breakerage of glass and torn tyres. The fact that the cars involved in vadalisim are all rented proofs that these cars are being subjected to such risks and who ever is renting the cars should not get a way with a peanuts primium and let the insurance incur the espense.
I consider that who is renting the cars is in a way predicting such risks and avoid involving his personal car in the process. Jekk ma nridx ninharaq ma nmurx hdejn in nar specjalment meta in nar ikun imkebbes sewwa minhabba il provakazjonijiet.
Hekk sewwa l-karozzi tghakhom il garaxx u tal kiri miri ghal vandalizmu biex imbaghad tghamlu storja. Dik irgulija.
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
May 2nd 2010, 15:59
Another sensational news from Joe Mangion - More than 1300 illegal acts. I hope that you have convicting proof to curb such acts, otherwise tkun qed tghazaq fl-ilma Sur Mangion. This L E G A L Spring Hunting had only a handful of law abiding hunters in the country, the rest were all illegal and it could have been very easily hadled by who ever is responsible to prosecute. The question is how come Birdlife Cabs and all are so prfessioanl in numbering the illegal activity and the real professsionals are not capable to handle them.
Once again Mr Mangion ends his article by stating that he is not after the abolition of hunting, as if in Autumn there will not be illegal activity. Make up your mind becuase if spring should be a closed season Autumn should also remain closed and that is abolition of hunting.
Finally while I condemn any violence I hate to note that all cars involved are all rented presumably on a coprehensive insurance. I consider it very unfair to risk rented cars paying a few Euros for insurance and expose these cars to such damage.for the sake of making sensational news. Growup man !!!!!!
Lou Gardner (tourist)
May 2nd 2010, 15:10
I heared AutoGlass are doing a brilliant turnover on the islands?
Andrew Gatt
May 2nd 2010, 14:58
Here they go again. Birdlife and CABS, running to mummy at the EU, just like classroom sneaks. The usual press conference and wild claims, with the difference that the standard battered birds of preys are missing this time. X'kien! With all those shots you say you heard, you should have been able to replenish your freezers for years! You must be SO disappointed at such a carcass-free season. I'll bet.
And please, Joseph Mangion and the rest, you seem to have forgotten that you are NOT elected officials. You are NOT authorised to play God. You are not members of the Police Corps. And your certainly ain't running this country.
You ARE a now-extremist organisation with equally radical buddies, whose foreign executives are usung Malta as a convenient and grossly exaggerated scapegoat, in spite of court rulings and in spite of your lies and misinfomation being shot down by the same ECJ.
Just look at yourself. Rubbing your hands in glee, all buddy-buddy and happy-happy, snickering away about your disgusting attempt to get MALTA - YOUR COUNTRY - fined on the basis of your garbage.
ISTHI (JEKK TAF KIF), SUR MANGION.
David Caruana
May 2nd 2010, 15:40
"You are not members of the Police Corps"
It is the duty of every citizen to report illegalities to the appropriate authorities.
"You are NOT authorised to play God"
Neither are you or anyone who thinks he can take the life or liberty of any creature for his own 'pleasure', or how you like calling it, delizzju.
As a Maltese citizen I thank BLM and CABS for rightfully exposing these attrocities. Never give up and keep up the good work!
Andrew Gatt
May 2nd 2010, 21:15
C'mon David don't be absurd!
When did YOU, as a "law-abiding citizan", last go on patrol to Paceville and Gzira, recording illegalities a-la-CABS and Birdlife? Breaking up fights? Reporting dangerous drivers? Be realistic man.
And when do I claim to be God or even a distant relative? I have a hunting license that allows me to hunt game. Much the same as an amateur fisherman - sometimes I take some home for the pot, most times I don't. Out of 350 species of birds recorded in Malta, we can only legally target about 32. Pretty biased in favour of birdwatchers, wouldn't you say?
Yeah, suck up to CABS and Birdlife in their desperate efforts and U-turns to get Malta fined. Some national pride you have. Sure.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
May 2nd 2010, 13:48
I feel ashamed that a co-citizen is acting in this shameful way towards OUR COUNTRY!! Joe Mangion, quoting YOUR figures (whether inflated or not), the illegalties YOU mention amount to 0.29% of the population. You are fully aware that we have much higher percentages of illegalties in different sectors of society. What would be the percentage of irresponsible drivers, tax-evaders, drug-pushers, picnicers littering the countryside, over-charging to tourists, littering of our streets, rapists, paedophiles, CARRYING OF POINTED INSTRUMENTS, etc., etc.?!! Would a TRUE MALTESE in his right senses urge the EU to penalise Malta? Have you taught of the many law-abiding Maltese Hunters who have been deprived of their Spring Hunting Season?! Do you actually realise the harm you are inflicing on Malta?! Shame on you!
Axel Hirschfeld, what is keeping you from giving the assurance I have long been requesting, i.e. that YOU and your personnel are "clean" while roaming the countryside?!!!
BLM and Co, stop telling us that: "We are not out to ban hunting"!!! Your friend David Conlin has stated: "We will not relent in our activity until Malta is a BIRD HUNTING FREE zone"!!!!
Phil Humphries
May 2nd 2010, 16:59
A true Patriot should never report embarrassing illegalities to the pertinent authorities. They should either ignore them, sweep them under the carpet, or seek to employ irrelevant and meaningless statistics in a futile attempt to defend them.
I sincerely hope that the younger generation rejects such irresponsible behaviour.
Any further comment would be superfluous; however many asterisks accompany it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Joe Camilleri
May 2nd 2010, 12:01
I bet the chaps at BLM & CABS would have the time of their life if Malta would be fined by the EU. Moreover they EXPECT the Commission to take action against Malta.
What does the BLM moaners have to say now that they have to pay a fine (Always if there would be one). But I bet that the EU will shun their report like i did last september.
Paul A. Camilleri
May 2nd 2010, 11:31
We are not out to ban hunting. Hunters have 5 months to enjoy their patime in Autumn. This is what Mr. Mangion Stressed. .......... There you have it, BLM and CABS would sell their own souls to see Spring hunting Abolished from these Islands, not to mention the Orchestrated lies they are about to send to the Commission in Brussels. These ( People ) are more dangerous with their tactics than LEAD SHOT from a hunter's gun. God knows what they have in store when the Honey Buzzard migration starts.
T Camilleri
May 2nd 2010, 13:14
BLM would sell their own mother
David Caruana
May 2nd 2010, 14:31
I wonder what the poachers have in store when the Honey Buzzard migration starts!
Anthony Formosa
May 2nd 2010, 11:29
After listening to Mr Mangions interview in English, which BTW the overwhelming majority are Maltese, now I feel that my life is threatened from both ways, I feel that with the hunting situation and with so many shots in this tiny Malta it looks like that I'm in Vietnam. On the other hand BLM & CABS they want the EU to penalise Malta, more than already is and become another Greece.
We have been proved right, BLM said, and they were always right, even when they were saying for the past decade that autumn was an alternative for spring, however the ECJ proved them wrong.
"This year should have been a test for the government. The least it could have done was enforce the law, yet there was no adequate police response, transmitting the message that anything goes," he said.
"We are not out to ban hunting. Hunters have five months to enjoy their pastime in autumn."
What exactly Mr Mangion wants to enforce the law or to ban hunting? FKNK was all out to help enforcing the law with many measures in place, but BLM rubbished it. Kif Hawwadni Sur Mangion.
Dennis Zammit
May 2nd 2010, 11:15
The title should read ' Masked men allegedly attack bird wathers'. With soo many filmings, did the alleged bird watchers or trespassers film or take a photo of the alleged attack?
lgalea
May 2nd 2010, 10:47
CABS why don't you go and film the MURDER of INNOCENT DEFENSELESS HUMAN BEINGS through ABORTIONS carried out in your country GERMANY. Have a look at these links
http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/ab-frgermany.html
http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/germany/ab-ges.html
Go to this page http://www.cnimalta.org/180210.html and scroll down and see a couple of MURDERED babies CABS
Robert Callus
May 2nd 2010, 12:11
What is the connection between CABS and the abortions? Just because they're German?
Mark Shaw
May 2nd 2010, 14:33
I'm sorry , i see nowhere in the news article any items regarding abortion!!!! lets put down the smoke and mirrors and deal with stated facts instead of trying to draw the argument into other waters!!!
Johnny Xerri
May 2nd 2010, 10:31
5 months to enjoy autumn hunting?
1. Doves migrate mainly from mid-August till the first week of September, very exceptionally till the second week of September. Yet the season starts as from 1st September, so 2 weeks of migration are lost. If a passage occurs during these 2 weeks then no more doves will be seen during the remaining open season.
2. Autumn doves are not prolific to all the areas of Malta but mainly alight in just the western coast. Thus most of Malta and Gozo do not even see 1 dove.
3. Quail start arriving as from mid-September and unlike spring in autumn their arrival is mostly during the day. Surprise of all surprises, its half days from mid-September till the end of September, so if quail migrate all day long we only get a chance at half the migration. If they happen to migrate during the afternoon, then we get no chance.
4. November-January is only 'good' for woodcock and ducks, and in 10 years of hunting practically every day during this period, I only managed 15 woodcocks and 1 duck. Hardly and alternative.
5. Not out for a ban? The why target rabbit hunting?