The hunters' federation (FKNK) insisted today that Framework Legislation governing bird hunting needed to be amended.

Federation president Joe Perici Calascione said that the cap of 20,000 Turtle Doves and Quails which may be shot in a year was far too limited and was not based on proper scientific reports which showed that bird populations were such that a bigger bag was justified.

The press conference, held in Buskett, marked the third anniversary of a European Court of Justice decision on spring hunting in Malta.

Mr Perici Calascione said that decision by the court was a major victory for hunting in Malta and the federation would continue to insist that the decision should be interpreted correctly by the government so that Malta could have a proper spring hunting season.

He said the federation was calling for a revision of the framework legislation also in areas such as how the hunting seasons were decided.

The government, he said, also needed to lift unnecessary hunting restrictions which were not required by EU law, such as the ban on hunting on Sundays and after 3 p.m. on weekdays.