Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi stressed yesterday that the government had always defended Malta’s position on hunting and trapping, together with Ornis and the FKNK, when faced with infringement procedures by the European Court of Justice.

Dr Gonzi was speaking during question time in Parliament when Labour MP Anthony Agius Decelis asked whether the government intended applying for a derogation for the limited capture of European finches in the Maltese Islands for the autumn season.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said replied that such derogation could only be applied after a recommendation by Ornis.

Supplementary questions were asked by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat, Chris Cardona and Mr Agius Decelis, the latter asking whether a programme could be planned ahead for a number of years so that hunters and trappers would know where they stood.

Intervening, Dr Gonzi said that the parameters had been established within the EU directive. There were exceptions which could be used by member states after providing sufficient scientific research.

The European Court of Justice had found in favour of the Maltese government, but imposed a yearly calculation which had to be carried out from one season to another. “Our argument had always been that if not enough birds were caught in autumn Maltese should be able to hunt also in spring,” Dr Gonzi said.

It was due to this mathematical calculation that hunting seasons could not be established beforehand. If the number of birds caught in autumn was above the limit, then the spring season would not be opened. With regard to trapping, Dr Gonzi said that all information was published in the public guidelines. Similarly to hunting, one could not establish the opening and closing date of the trapping season.

On Friday, recommendations by Ornis had been issued and that was why one particular species of birds could now be caught. If further reports were finalised and found to be valid, the government would be able to open the season for other species.

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