Raymond W. Zammit, San Pawl tat-Tarġa
European Commission and my hunting rights (1)
I principally hunt quail and have two dogs bred and trained for the purpose. I was assuming that the European Court of Justice ruling, which recognised my lack of a “satisfactory solution”, would have resulted in a just and equitable solution for me and the 80 per cent of hunters that do not have access to quail in autumn as argued by Malta in its defence of derogation.
Knowing that according to publicly available best scientific data the figures for the quail populations, according to the one per cent annual mortality rate, by far exceed the maximum figure of 5,000 quail allowed whenever a derogation is to be applied, how can such a limit expect to be justified? The same can be said for the number of turtle doves being suggested. Contrary to what the government’s legislation states and according to the same data, turtle dove figures are far less than those of quail. However, considering my main concern is the hunting of quail, I will base my argument accordingly.
The government is on record as having received approval from the European Commission on the framework legislation it is implementing which eventually is to be transposed into national law. Any such legislation is bound by a factor of “legal certainty” and this fact certainly conditioned the government to ignore any scientific data and legislate for a “pittance” as it was certain this would not be detrimental to its obligations. On the other hand the Commission is not obliged to comment on the numbers being proposed unless these are excessive and certainly could not but agree to such numbers “being within the court’s judgment”. This is how my right for a satisfactory solution has been sold by the government and eagerly bought by the Commission in what it accepts as being the one per cent annual mortality of the species.
Clearly the government never meant to exercise its right to defend my legal expectations since the Commission could never object to the pittance it proposed. However, if the government were not after derogating just to pacify some possible voters it might want to learn what other European hunters that do not need a derogation in spring are allowed to hunt as opposed to my meagre limits it so deceitfully proposed.
According to the Commission’s own publications the hunters of eight European states collectively hunt two to four million turtle doves and four million quail in autumn. Within the same publications, a survey carried out in Greece from its 270,000 hunters to establish the approximate hunted number of quail concludes that “the average take per gun per trip was four quail per gun with three per cent out of a sample of 3,000 hunters reaching the authorised limit of 12 quail per day.” Clearly with such bag counts none of the eight European states that hunt these species see the need to derogate in spring.
However ,in all its wisdom, Malta’s government negotiated a limit in autumn of two quail per hunter that would automatically preclude a derogation in spring.
Apart from records available to the government proving this maximum limit never been reached in autumn, its negotiations concluded that in order to attain a satisfactory solution in spring all 10,000 hunters are allowed a maximum collective bag of 5,000 which is further reduced by the formula it concocted to justify proportionality.
This year I am expected to satisfy my quail hunting instinct by sharing 2,500 quail between the 6,000 applicants for derogation. So if I were “unlucky” enough not to attain the quota of two in autumn I am expected to satisfy myself with 0.42 of a quail this spring. If whatever government negotiated or the Commission approved amounts to this nonsense it is opportune to ask for a clarification as to the provenance of such numbers. Failing this, as a European hunter having the same rights as any other I have no problem with declaring that my rights to a just and equitable solution have been sold to an entity that purports to uphold equality and justice yet conveniently agrees to something it knows to be incorrect.
Considering Malta’s government is content with what it negotiated, I expect the Commission to clarify its position considering that as a European citizen claiming an injustice I have a right to know how my limitations to a court declared “satisfactory solution” have been bartered.
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Ms Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Apr 21st 2011, 19:09
Steve Zammit, it is you who is presenting rubbish! We are speaking here about children who are presently ON HOLIDAY! Therefore, a school outing cannot be organised! Why have you found it so difficult to understand?
Charlie Borg, you appear to be so disillusioned with the fact that the Maltese hunters are enjoying their Spring Hunting Season in a legal manner, that you have made a mess in your comment. You mixed up what I had to say to Brian Simmons to Valerie Grungi!!! How can we ever take your comments seriously when you have stumbled in such a simple comment?! I suggest you start understanding others' comments before writing funny comments!!
Ms Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Apr 20th 2011, 20:23
Valerie Grungi, you are the one who should be ashamed for trying to hamper the legal right of the Maltese hunters to enjoy the traditional Spring Hunting Season!
Brian Simmons, ARE YOU SERIOUS???!! You must indeed be a gullible person to believe the bit about the butterflies!!!!! I pity you. Furthermore, I urge you to inform yourself about hunting taking place in your country before meddling with our affairs. I assure you, you will be ashamed of YOUR local hunters!!
J Borg, children can maybe enjoy hikes at the Ghadira Nature Reserve!! But how can they? This is closed during weekdays!
Steve Zammit
Apr 21st 2011, 13:40
Re: ''children can maybe enjoy hikes at the Ghadira Nature Reserve!! But how can they? This is closed during weekdays! ''
Stop stating rubbish please. Besides whats your point??? Apart from the fact that children cannot enjoy hikes during weekdays because they attend school, you should update yourself simply because it is open on weekdays for organised school visits. Infact hundreds of school children visit the reserve on weekdays!
Charlie Borg
Apr 21st 2011, 18:16
Ah, unfortunately, yet another attack on someone who happens to have a foreign name, with the belief that he or she has no right to interfere about the subject of hunting in Malta. It appears that Sylvana Zarb Darmanin has still not woken up to the 21st century and the one-world-one-village concept which is CRUCIAL if humanity is to save the natural environment. Sensible people know who should be 'pitied' and it is certainly not Ms Grungi. Ms Grungi, this is not 'meddling in our affairs'. You are right to take us to ask for this very serious blot in these islands' life.
Mr Johnny Xerri
Apr 21st 2011, 22:31
Charlie Borg,
Your one-world-one-village should be used to promote hunting...since hunting is allowed alloevr the world, the little village named Malta should also allow it (as it has done).
Mr J. Borg
Apr 20th 2011, 18:39
Hunting "rights"?
Is there a real 'right' to kill what you do not own? let alone a 'right' to kill?
Speaking about real rights
How about responsibly walking in the PUBLIC countryside, in a safe and peaceful environment?
How about the right for kids to enjoy hikes during Spring holidays?
The above sustainable and healthy activities do not preclude anyone from enjoying their respective sustainable REAL rights....unlike hunting (and without going into the merits of threat to protected birds and lead polluting soil).
Mr Mark Cutajar
Apr 20th 2011, 15:59
In a nutshell, I have to kill birds come hell or high water.
Mr Brian Simmons
Apr 20th 2011, 12:28
Oh dear AG. You'll never understand. Humans eat meat, so it is bred and raised for that purpose. All the time an edible crop is farmed, there will be more next time. It seems that the hunters of Malta just have an urge to kill anything that flies which will leave no birds for the future. Sadly the birds don't realise and still fly over Malta.
I once saw a travel programme which mentioned that once the bird killers have finished off all the birds, they shoot the butterflies. How sad is that?
If you must continue this dreadful activity then you should breed birds for that purpose. You then have sustainability and less killing hopefully of the rare an beautiful birds that seem always to come to grief over Malta.
Andrew Gatt
Apr 20th 2011, 13:39
Once again, BS, you manage to miss the mark. You mix up 2 prolific game birds with illegal shooting and protected species.
And as for your comment ......"I once saw a travel programme which mentioned that once the bird killers have finished off all the birds, they shoot the butterflies. How sad is that?"............Very sad indeed, BS, because you seem to happily swallow every ridiculous and stupid statement, just so long as it attacks hunting.
Perhaps you should have a chat with the Royal Family and the other millions of UK shooters. Perhaps you can also educate the grouse, woodpigeon, waterfowl, woodcock, plover, snipe etc. not to fly over the UK and get shot in millions for the pot - all perfectly legally.
A bit of growing up would not go amiss, either.
Mr Brian Simmons
Apr 20th 2011, 16:55
Maybe AG you should set an example and give up your neanderthal pastime. THEN we could see who needs to grow up!
Andrew Gatt
Apr 20th 2011, 19:03
Give up my "neanderthal pastime" BS? Sure. The day the other EU countries ban it. Meanwhile, I'll continue to legally hunt - and eat - game, the same as millions of other EU citizens in ALL EU countries.
Including your own, which has one of the most lucrative shooting industries in the world. 24/7/365 on something or other.......plus legal snaring, lamping, trapping and gassing of "vermin". Charity begins at home. And am I to assume a good proportion of the UK are "neanderthals"...........from the Royal Family downwards?
Ooops......gotta go......a butterfly just crossed my sights! Ugga uggga ugga!
Mr Johnny Xerri
Apr 21st 2011, 22:26
Mr Simmons,
Has any EU member state given up its hunting?
Your reply is most awaited for...unless you accept that hunting is practiced all over the world...I see no point in you growing up as you would be out of place...since grown ups accept reality...little kids don't!!!
Charlie Borg
Apr 20th 2011, 09:40
Well, basically, you have no right to kill. Is that plain enough for you to understand? If you have a right to kill that bird in the sky, that same bird is also MY property as much as it is yours. So, no, you have no right to kill.
Andrew Gatt
Apr 20th 2011, 11:03
The logic of another hunter-hater. Next time you tuck into a juicy steak or chicken, Charlie Borg, just remember that they were MY property as much as yours. Only difference is that you let someone else do the dirty work for you - breeding, medicating, caging, fattening and slaughtering.
Although, going by previous comments of yours, I wouldn't be surprised that you also believe they grow on supermarket shelves.
So no, you have no right to get someone to kill for you.
Mr Chris Xuereb
Apr 20th 2011, 12:37
Next time you tuck into a juicy steak or chicken remember that it's not yours till you pay for it & it's not the producers if he didn't breed it. All these supermarket, driving license, electoral promises,abortion and petty irrelevant childish nonsense.should be put forward to Brussels if you think they're valid points.
Mrs Valerie Grungi
Apr 20th 2011, 17:12
Are you hunters not thoroughly ashamed of yourselves that you have to find 'amusement' in killing our birds which give so much pleasure to so many people, these far outnumbering the killers. Surely, in the 21st century , we should have moved on from these barbaric pastimes and a ban should be enforced before the world is left with nothing except a multitude of the human population with no means of supporting them. We have lost so many species already so please leave what remains to breed and continue to exist peacefully along with man.
Mr Johnny Xerri
Apr 21st 2011, 22:21
Mrs Grungi,
Please name one EU member state that has banned hunting.
We find as much amusement as the person who fishes...yet nobody condems.
Hunting is not just "boom boom boom"
Hunting is conserving land and habitats...habitats that imporve the lving conditions of hunters, the genral human population and non-game bird species and animals
Hunting is a sporting skill, in which; patience, perceverance, temperament in shooting at and hiting a target are tested to the limits.
Hunting involves culinary skills in preserving, preparing, cooking and eating the game
Hunting is a culture which combines the consevation, sporting and culiary activities into one lifestyle.
Hunting is an experience...unlike being a contract killer who buys his pound of flesh from the butcher