BirdLife criticised the authorities' decision to return guns confiscated by the police from hunters this week.

The guns were confiscated from hunters caught not complying with this year's spring hunting legislation by not carrying the necessary documents with them while hunting.

The decision to return the guns was taken after the FKNK lobbied Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, and threw into question the government's commitment to strictly enforce this year's spring hunting season, BirdLife said.

The government, it said, was obliged to ensure strict conditions of enforcement as a basic requirement of the Birds' Directive derogation.

Furthermore, there was no restriction on the number of licenses issued for this year's three-week season, open until April 30, as demanded by the FKNK last year.

"The Prime Minister has already given in to several FKNK demands. He has now caved in to yet more FKNK demands and further relaxed enforcement of this year's spring hunting season," campaigns coordinator Geoffrey Saliba said.

He said that this latest decision not only undermined police efforts at enforcement, but also jeopardised the 'strict supervision' test required as part of the spring hunting derogation.

Both turtle dove and quail are of conservation concern since they are in decline in Europe.

BirdLife maintained that no derogations should be permitted for spring hunting of species of unfavourable conservation status.