FKNK suspends Ornis Committee membership

The FKNK is suspending its participation on the Malta Ornis Committee with immediate effect in protest at the government's refusal to open the trapping season for the golden plover.

The government's hesitation, it said in a statement is "illogical and insensible".

The federation has also suspended its participation from the scientific study commissioned by the government which should have commenced in the forthcoming days.

The FKNK said that after it addressed the issue in a news conference on Monday, its officials had further talks with personnel from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The federation was again informed that the government was still unsure about the conservation status of the species and this prevented it from opening this year's season.

This season has always been opened so far and its opening was also recommended by the Malta Ornis Committee.

The FKNK said this species is hunted and killed in several other member states but Malta was hesitating to allow the live-capture of a relatively negligible number of birds, rendering the situation illogical and insensible.

"Since the FKNK has already supplied government with the necessary scientific studies, dossiers and documents, and also since it is still in time, the FKNK yet again appeals to government to immediately and correctly apply a derogation and open the trapping season for the golden plover together with that of the song thrush.

"Government has to heed the warnings and clear indicators offered by the Commission such that both application as well as eventual justification will be in order and respect the directive's strict requirements."

It said that the lack of clear and direct action by the government so far to make good its promises and written declarations to trappers was evident in this state of affairs since the species could be killed but not captured alive.