Hunters cite 50 infringements
Birdlife accuses federation of grossly understating the figure
The police only found 50 infringements during this year’s spring hunting season, according to a report filed with the European Commission by the hunters’ federation.
In a brief summary of the report circulated to the media yesterday, the hunters’ federation said the police carried out 1,665 spot checks on hunters in the season that started on April 13 and ended on April 30.
The 50 infringements make up less than one per cent of the 5,610 hunters licensed to hunt in spring.
However, Birdlife Malta contested the figure, insisting that the report only took note of those cases where the police pressed charges.
The federation of hunting and conservation said that “it was clearly evident” that the best deterrent against illegal activities was “the presence of over 5,000 law-abiding hunters in the field”.
The federation also said that the migration passage of the two bird species that could be hunted – turtle dove and quail – over the Maltese Islands during the permitted hours for hunting was “the worst such passage in living memory”.
Paul Debono, BirdLife executive director, said hunters were basing their report on a police document presented to the Ornis Committee in May.
“The police document does not include details for any other illegalities that the police investigated, witnessed, or ongoing police investigations,” Birdlife said.
The bird conservation group accused the federation of ignoring police investigations into shooting at protected species, night shooting, reports by members of the public, shot protected birds received by the police, and a whole host of other illegalities.
“We are looking at an analysis which is extremely selective about which illegalities to consider, presenting a scandalously distorted picture of this year’s spring hunting derogation,” said Mr Debono charged.
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Mr Chris Xuereb
Jun 3rd 2011, 12:54
50 (Known) infringements with half the hunters out, in such a short amount of time & with hardly any quail or dove sightings. Imagine the infringements with 12,000 out in full force, a month of open season & the amount of birds they used as an excuse to hunt in spring because autumn wasn't an alternative.Can't possibly see how this advert can work in your favor.
Mr Johnny Xerri
Jun 4th 2011, 14:02
time will tell if showing that only 0.89% of hunters broke th law will be a good advert (as you please to call it)
Prior to the ECJ court case BLM Stated that; spring hunting is illegal, that there is the autumn alternative, that Malta is on the main migratory route and that illegal hunting is rampant in Malta.
Prior to the ECJ court case FKNK stated that; spring hunting is legal, that autumn is not an alternative, that Malta is not on the main migratory route, and that illegal hunting is not rampant.
After the opening of the 2010 season, BLM stated that we would be fcing hefty fines...FKNK denied this.
Guess what...the points presented by BLM prior to the ECJ court case were dismissed by the highest Eurpean court....and no fines were imposed on Malta for the 2010 & 2011 spring seasons.
So in simple English....'I and other hunters do not give a hoot about what you think re our PR...and we certainly don't need your opinion' but maybe BLM could do with some help in order to find an argument which this time is factual and realistic enough to be believed by the EU Commission and ECJ....so help them...after the opening of this years season which saw an improvement over that of last year, hunters do not need your opinion.
Mr Daniel Jones
Jun 3rd 2011, 10:35
Should read 50 infringements amongst those 5,610 holding the license to hunt. There was (according to FKNKs figures) another 5,000+ hunters without the special spring license which the FKNK report does not cover. All the police reports of night hunting, the shooting of the spoonbills, the shooting of the storks etc are not covered in these 50.
50 infringements of those holding the special license is 50 too many. This is a massive PR gaff on the part of the FKNK. Sending this report to Brussels will harm the federation not help it.
With their self declared zero tolerance approach, will the FKNK now put its money where its mouth is and suspend the membership of these poachers (again FKNK words - a someone who hunts illegally is a poacher) responsible for these 50 infringements?
And in anticipation of the usual responses, yes those drivers, etc etc should be shown a zero tolerance approach too. Maybe that way the general atmosphere of lawlessness that is pervading the islands at the moment will be reduced.
Mr Johnny Xerri
Jun 4th 2011, 13:45
Dear Mr Jones,
Please note the following, digest the facts and reason before putting pen to paper (or keys to site!!)
1. The 50 infringements represent the abuse of the derogation and were at maximum committed by 50 hunters. I am saying at maximum because one hunter could have committed more than one abuse, example...having more than 3 cartridges in the gun, surpassing the gamebag, not having sent an sms, etc. However, lets for arguments sake, take it that each infringment was carried out by a different hunter. That implies 50/5610 = 0.89 percent of the hunters broke the law. Even if the abuse was 10 times as recorded by the police, which is highly improbable since the police carried out check on more 1655 spot checks approximatly 30% of hunters...it would amount to 500/5610 = 9% of hunters broke the law.
2. The poaching on storks and spoonbills, did not occur during the open season. The shooting at night did not occur during the licenced time frame. Therefore with or without the derogated season such poaching would still have occured.
3. FKNK has already been quoted by newspapers to have suspended all those hunters who are pending a court case and will expel them if they are found guilty.
4. Your last comment re the drivers shows your extrimisim against hunting and your hate agianst hunters...you expect' those drivers' to be shown zero tolerance....but not 'all drivers' (implying those who committed no offense should not be collectively punished)...yet you wanted FKNK to include in the report crimes committed by those who did not pay the special licence and who would still have poached even if the season was not opened...just to tarnish all hunters and increase the abuse rate.