Illegal hunting at sea
BirdLife Malta has issued these pictures, taken last week, which, it said, show three men hunting illegally from a boat well within 3km of shore. The photographer was walking at the top of the cliffs at Ta' Ċenċ.
When the men in the boat realised they were being watched, they hurriedly put their guns away and sped off in the direction of Xlendi. MEPA enforcement officers and the police were informed and these photographs have been passed on as evidence.
"Illegal hunting at sea continued with impunity throughout October, with protected birds. from flamingos to kestrels and Scopoli's (formerly Cory's) Shearwaters, being killed by poachers. BirdLife Malta has also received several reports from members of the public who have witnessed illegal hunters shooting at protected birds at sea," the NGO said.
"Despite the numerous illegalities reported since the opening of the season for hunting at sea, BirdLife Malta has received information that the ALE has not had any patrols monitoring hunting at sea," it added.
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64 Comments
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M. Cardona
Oct 29th 2012, 20:16
@ anthony sultana;
if hunters are bird killers then don't anglers or fishermen qualify as fish killers?
"when I go fishing with my boat early in the morning"
So its ok for you to enjoy your pastime killing fish, but then insult hunters cause they kill birds.
Talking of hypocrisy; I love fish in aquariums and free in the sea, yours is a cruel hobby, killing fish for your enjoyment.
Jesmond Degabriele
Nov 13th 2012, 19:14
Ghandek ragun mija fill-mija.Tistad tista,Iggelled il-klieb tista basta ma tmurx tonsob jew ghall-kacca.Dak sacrilegg.
J Zammit
Oct 29th 2012, 18:53
according to maritime law I thought it was illegal to carry a firearm on a boat unless the said boat was a military or police vessel... or a vessel that has "licenced private security" on board
M. Cardona
Oct 29th 2012, 20:10
Check again J Zammit; then you would make more sense.
anthony sultana
Oct 29th 2012, 18:19
Save the birds vote for AD the green party,with the other old parties we have to live with the birds killers for another 5 black years no countryside for the ramblers and birds watcher.One member of the AD in parlament is enough to stop the abuse that goes on all year around.
M. Cardona
Oct 29th 2012, 20:11
Should we stop your fishing pastime too; you fish killer?
Iggy Vassallo
Oct 29th 2012, 15:21
Hunting is not a sport until the animal or bird also has a gun.
Anna Sullivan
Oct 29th 2012, 14:19
Many psychopaths show signs of disturbing behavior such as extreme cruelty toward animals and of course hunting and killing them.
Hunting, unless for survival, is just a smoke screen for their uncontrollable nature - these hunters should be caught and put into their own 2x2 cages....
Peter Murray
Oct 29th 2012, 17:04
Peope,l who are cruel to animals are invariably cruel to humans as well
M. Cardona
Oct 29th 2012, 20:18
@ Peter Murray,
and what about people who invariably believe they are in a position to perpetually judge others by their yardstick whom they evidently fail to understand?
E. Azzopardi
Oct 29th 2012, 14:18
I do not think they playing billiards or cards for that matter. It is evident for all to see, except the morons.
Once again. let us do some good honour to our country. We cannot afford to keep on embarrassing Malta. But there are those who have no national pride whatsoever. Politicans always boast that the interest of Malta comes first.
As far as I am concerned, I do not believe this.
Mark Anthony Caruana
Oct 29th 2012, 13:45
@ Mr. Lawrence Attard
Dear mr. Attard... i am trying to defend no one! neither am i accusing anyone!
its is not up to me to accuse or defend... i leave that up to the lawyers and judges to do so! however it will take more than these two petty photos! that was all my point!
Tracy Scerri
Oct 29th 2012, 13:45
@ Mr Joe Camilleri
You can try and find loopholes in my comment all you want. I did not carry out any survey, but this article regarding illegal hunting is not a first. I for one know quite some hunters who abide by the law, but I think we could all agree that they are not part of the majority. At the end of the day I'm just against what is illegal Mr Camilleri.
Mr Anthony Formosa
Oct 29th 2012, 13:45
To all those with no clue, its duck hunting season and nothing is illegal, don't let BLM misguiding you.
Chris Finch
Oct 29th 2012, 16:27
"Nothing is illegal". There we have the mentality of a hunter. Nothing is illegal. That is why they shoot at everything. They have no clue as to the law.
vella m
Oct 29th 2012, 13:07
Vote for the party who is going to ban hunting completely.
A A Camilleri
Oct 29th 2012, 13:28
and which party is that may i ask??
mark johnson
Oct 29th 2012, 13:41
Which is.............?
Ivan Calleja
Oct 29th 2012, 18:04
That's a very good question......if you have the answer just let us know....that party will get my vote!!!
Stephen Frendo
Oct 29th 2012, 22:15
''Vote for the party who is going to ban hunting completely'' and the party who wants to legalise the use of drugs!! No thanks AD!! We deserve better!!
Karl Svensk
Oct 29th 2012, 12:59
Typical idiots. Hunting was for gathering food last I checked. When it was needed, shooting birds from boats and then what? What do they do with the birds? Eat them? Stuff them? What is done? Please explain to us who are not Maltese and see the reasons for drive-by shooting birds..
Mr Anthony Formosa
Oct 29th 2012, 13:36
Mr Svensk, "Hunting was for gathering food last I checked" The last menu I've checked I saw roast duck, duck breast with orange sauce etc. Birds can be eaten and mounted so nothing is wasted.
John J Borg
Oct 29th 2012, 21:00
```Please explain to us who are not Maltese and see the reasons for drive-by shooting birds..````
Why not ask the 7 million hunters across europe that are not maltese!!!!!!!
Pippo de Marco
Oct 30th 2012, 01:34
@ A Formosa.
" Birds can be eaten and mounted so nothing is wasted."
But which comes first, the eating or the mounting ?
J. Vella
Oct 29th 2012, 12:42
Well, it seems that if they were hunting, the shotgun is in the pocket which is legal. If those persons are hunting and then have to return (obviously ) to land they don't throw the shotgun, they have to bring them back with them...and the law states that it must be inside the pocket without ammunition. How birdlife personnell can state that these were hunting inside the 3 km zone without proof?
Jay Oatmon
Oct 29th 2012, 14:14
The bird killers always have an excuse when caught red handed.
It is pretty obvious that the bird killers will continue to do as they please - and the law will do the absolute minimum to stop the illegalities.
The only answer is to vote for the party which says it will ban all bird killing in Malta, and hope we get a election result where that party holds the balance of power (like the UK).
M. Cardona
Oct 29th 2012, 20:22
Mr Jay Oatman,
I pray for the day when we get UK hunting legislation; that will be the day. A multitude of hunting derogations, permissible hunting 24/7/365, no closed season, birds which are protected here in Malta are legitimate game all year round in UK. Legal lamping for rabbits and foxes. Need I say more? If so do come back, though you'd be in for such surprises.
Rupert Masefield
Oct 30th 2012, 15:06
J. Vella As the article clearly states, the men in the boat put their guns away when they noticed they were being watched. The person who reported the incident witnessed them shooting.
M. Cardona If you have looked at the derogation reports for the UK published by English Nature, you will see that not one is for recreational hunting or trapping.
M. Cardona
Oct 30th 2012, 18:50
Mr Rupert Masefield,
talking of convenient loopholes to fit big brother country interests; so why does one spend top buck to shoot woodpigeon, corvids, collared doves, rabbits, foxes 24/7/365 ? Oh I guess cause its not recreational!
Would you be so kind to mention how many hunting/trapping derogations UK has in place? Go on, please surprise the readers. Is it over 200?
M. Cardona
Oct 30th 2012, 18:54
Mr Masefield,
where exactly did you read in the news article that, "The person who reported the incident witnessed them shooting". No wonder we get so many unsubstantiated reports then.
On a separate note, did you perchance mean Natural England rather than English Nature? OOPs
J Tabone
Oct 29th 2012, 12:36
Let me make it clear: I am not a hunter. In fact I loath hunting. BUT - other countries have hunting seasons and can shoot at birds and other animals - such as boars and deer. We only have migrating birds. Why do we have all this hullabaloo on hunting - as if they are killing persons? Why can't hunters enjoy their hobby without BIRDLIFE and CABS breathing down their necks?
Jay Oatmon
Oct 29th 2012, 14:31
Killing little birds with a gun is not what the majority of people in Malta want to see.
The majority of Maltese would rather have no one carrying guns in the countryside and more birds to see and hear.
Shooting clays is what should be permitted but not senseless bird killing.
maria borg
Oct 29th 2012, 14:34
and why can`t we see a nice bird like a flamingo or any other kind of bird flying ??
Peter Murray
Oct 29th 2012, 17:10
these other countries you refer to allow hunting as the animals are bred for that purpose and are not in transit to pro-create and after been killed are eaten which ,like it or not ,serves a purpose .Hunting is also allowed to cull the animals as they may ruin crops if too plentiful and not just be killed to adorn a wall or a sideboard -which is a polarised definition of hunting
J. Vella
Oct 29th 2012, 18:54
I agree with you Mr. Tabone. if they want to see birds they should buy some fields and sit their and watch sparrows! I disagree that to see birds the hunting season is abolished and third parties go to others fields!
steve hayden
Oct 29th 2012, 12:29
What amazes me is how there are never any police ie AFM patrolling the well known poaching areas....... Something stinks from the obvious lack of preventive enforcement. Is someone telling the cops to 'back Off' the poachers till election time? No One is going to vote for a party who allows this to go on.
Mr Anthony Formosa
Oct 29th 2012, 13:42
Mr hayden, do you see any poaching? because I don't. What stinks is BLM.
Emanuel Curmi
Oct 30th 2012, 12:05
Dear Mr Formosa
What stinks are your excuses for every exposed hunting illegality brought to light.
Mark Anthony Caruana
Oct 29th 2012, 12:17
@ Ms. T. Scerri...
you should back your accusations by something called proof! these two photos are clearly no proof at all...
if bird life malta has more "compromising" photos... i'd love to see more... preferably with one of the individuals shooting at a bird... then we can conclude, beyond reasonable doubt, that these three men were hunting...
Tracy Scerri
Oct 29th 2012, 13:41
You are right Mr Caruana, proof is required to conclude whether or not someone is guilty or not. Nevertheless, as many other readers stated I do not think it is a coincidence that these men are dressed in camouflage clothing. And for more photos, referring to the BirdLife website may help you. Photos of protected birds shot dead - don't think they shot themselves now did they?
Joseph John Camilleri
Oct 29th 2012, 13:43
Nobody goes on a highspeed dingy with a shotgun as an ornament. That shot gun is there for something, no?
Gordon Cook
Oct 29th 2012, 15:23
So ... it's normal to take a shotgun out in a rubber dinghy is it?
Get real.
M. Cardona
Oct 29th 2012, 20:28
Dear readers,
hunting at sea is presently legal irrespective of your misconceptions. The two shotguns are clearly within their protective covers as required by law when closer to shore ( 3 miles) at least so it would seem by the picture. So your comments would denote ignorance of the topic as well as an innate gullibility and lack of interest to quest for actual facts.
C Pace
Oct 29th 2012, 12:13
Bird hunting and trapping - a disgusting and macabre hobby of macho species who think they rule over nature itself.
Mr Anthony Formosa
Oct 29th 2012, 13:40
Mr Pace, whilst others do the job for you, we prefer to kill and eat our prey in more humanely way.
William Attard McCarthy
Oct 29th 2012, 11:47
I'm amazed at how the photographer managed to see them in the first place...that rural camo really helps them blend in well with their surroundings :)
Mark Anthony Caruana
Oct 29th 2012, 11:32
Really are they hunting? All i can see are three men in this "boat"....
they have not been photographed shooting! therefore there is no proof they were hunting...
i think they should have been quicker to take the photos....
Bird life malta seems to have become like a sort of big brother - the all seeing eye in the sky spying on maltese peasants lol.... is that legal?
Tracy Scerri
Oct 29th 2012, 11:55
Any person could come to the conclusion that these men were going hunting. Hunters have the option to hunt birds which are not protected - it is when laws are ignored that a problem arises. It's a pity that the majority of hunters ignore these laws and are endangering protected birds (obviously shedding a negative light on the hunters which do abide by the law and hunt unprotected bird species).
Mario Vella
Oct 29th 2012, 11:57
In fact I can see them eating hobz biz zejt and applying sunblock. Jidru li mhux jikkacjaw qedin.........
Lee Micallef
Oct 29th 2012, 12:05
Mark what do you think they were doing with guns (as one can see the man at the front holding one) in the boat ....Fishing ? dont make me laugh man !
One simple solution ...Ban all hunting and if the hunters dont like it ...TOUGH !
Emanuel Curmi
Oct 29th 2012, 12:05
A typical apologist remark. Maybe if you clear the smudges on your specs, I’m sure that u can see that the person up front is definitely not holding a broom stick. The person who sent in this report is showing a lot of civil courage and ought to be commended but considering your agenda, it’s obvious that you have absolutely no idea what I’m referring to.
Oswin Farrugia
Oct 29th 2012, 12:06
I wanna see you going on a boat dressed like them then!... or maybe yes...cliff watching was it?!
Lawrence Attard
Oct 29th 2012, 12:10
"Really are they hunting?"
Camouflage, shotgun, hanging around near the cliffs, speeding away when spotted....do you need more clues?
The question worth asking is why are you trying to defend these poachers by discrediting the report?
G Caruana
Oct 29th 2012, 12:11
No wonder hunters can't tell a racing pigeon from a flamingo
Timothy Cachia
Oct 29th 2012, 12:20
Well for starters people don't go on a pleasure ride in camouflage clothing.. and secondly it's clear the one in front is holding a hunting rifle.
Mr Joe Camilleri
Oct 29th 2012, 12:24
@ Tracy Scerri
1) Going hunting does not mean that they are hunting.
2) Did you make some kind of a survey to jump to the conclusion that the majority of hunters ignore the law. Currently there are about 14000, and if the majority of them flout the law, BLM will have a field of a day showing illegal shooting.
Paul Camilleri
Oct 29th 2012, 12:29
If you look at the photo Mr. Caruana, what is the first person holding in his hand? Multiple choice question... Is it:
a. Broomstick
b. Gun
c. Long Magic Wand.
And the answer is A or C... Yeah... Correct answer!!
Mark Jones
Oct 29th 2012, 12:37
can't you see the gun in his hand?
J. Vella
Oct 29th 2012, 12:44
So what tracy! if it's an open season , it's legal....bear with it! From these photos there are no shotguns in their hands but i'm seing a pocket which i am assuming its a shotgun. It's legal. they have to return home no? And the law states they have to be in the pocket without ammunition.
Tim Vella
Oct 29th 2012, 12:54
@Mark Anthony Caruana
Why are they carrying shotguns in camoflage then? Oh yes, maybe they're taking their guns for a swim...
Steve Mifsud
Oct 29th 2012, 13:04
I cannot take you or your comments seriously anymore......pathetic
N Chetcuti
Oct 29th 2012, 14:54
No they're not hunting. Just guarding our precious little island. This is why we can never believe hunters or take you seriously.
anthony sultana
Oct 29th 2012, 11:31
Lots of people can recognize this boat.Yes when I go fishing with my boat early in the morning I see them ,lots of them ,they drive slowly under the cliffs looking for rare birds. They kill the cormorant[bughaddas] that had settle in Xlendi .The texidermist is doing good in his underground shop.
Mr Joe Camilleri
Oct 29th 2012, 12:11
" I see them ,lots of them" lately you are seeing a lot of things. I hope you are not confusing dreams with reality.
by the way, cormorant is margun in maltese.
Please choose the reason of your report below: