Row over trapping season

Autumn bird trapping was not supposed to come to an end in 2008 but the government incorrectly applied EU derogations on seven consecutive occasions, according to the hunters’ federation, FKNK.

The Times yesterday reported that European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said Brussels had warned Malta two years ago on trapping derogations before taking formal legal action.

FKNK yesterday said the Commission had warned Malta because the autumn trapping derogation had been applied incorrectly and accused the government of “capriciously” not opening this year’s trapping season.

The decision not to open the season was taken in “an arbitrary manner and with no scientific basis or justification”, the federation said.

The government’s excuse to keep the trapping season closed was blown away by the Commission’s reply to questions by Labour MEP John Attard Montalto, the federation said.

The government justified its actions by citing the legal proceedings initiated by the Commission against Malta, but the federation insisted Brussels had delivered an early warning in 2009 and also offered assistance for the correct application of the derogation.

It accused government’s consultant on bird trapping matters of having “a personal anti-trapping agenda”.

Reacting to The Times report, the federation said it was not true that according to EU rules trapping had to be completely outlawed in Malta by the end of 2008.