The hunters’ federation, FKNK, has set its sights on two objectives: opposing the referendum on the abolition of spring hunting and lobbying for the reintroduction of songbird trapping this autumn.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, a few days before the start of a limited spring hunting season, FKNK president Joe Perici Calascione made a last appeal for hunters to obey the law and not to allow “the enemies of hunting” to take advantage of “a few black sheep” among the flock.
Comparing hunters with the judiciary, Mr Perici Calascione said: “If a judge is implicated in corruption we don’t say that all members of the judiciary are corrupt. The same must apply to a few hunters who disobey the law.”
He said the federation was in favour of strict rules, though he complained about an exaggerated focus on the conduct of hunters and condemned the Police Commissioner who, he said, was contemplating using drones to spy on hunters.
“We strongly object to such tactics as we need to make sure that the privacy of hunters is fully observed,” he said.
Turning his attention to the abrogative referendum which is being planned against spring hunting, Mr Perici Calascione appealed to members of Parliament to make sure that they ignore “a dozen people who want to eradicate spring hunting”.
We need to make sure that the privacy of hunters is fully observed
When it was pointed out that the referendum was being triggered by tens of thousands of eligible voters, Mr Perici Calascione said the FKNK was also collecting signatures which, he hoped, would surpass the one against spring hunting.
At the same time he said he was “sure” hunters would win hands down, should a poll be held. “We are in principle against this type of referendum as it is attacking the right of a minority of people.
“We will oppose its holding with all possible legal measures,” he stressed.
“However, in the eventuality it is held, we are more than sure that the hunting lobby will win the referendum.”
Intervening to back his point, secretary general Lino Farrugia pointed out that Italy had held 27 referenda against hunting and none were won by those against hunters.
The FKNK president also insisted his organisation was currently trying “to get back what was lost”, referring to the attempt to bring back finch trapping this autumn. He stressed that hunters should obey the rules this spring “to make sure that the European Commission would not take advantage of any incident” and put the two issues into one basket.
Finch trapping is not allowed under EU rules and the European Commission has stressed repeatedly that this will not be allowed in Malta. Upon accession in 2004, the Commission had allowed a transitional period for the taking of a limited number of songbirds until 2008.
However, the FKNK is lobbying the government to apply a derogation for the re-introduction of finch trapping. There is already a pending infringement on this issue against Malta and the next step would be a case in front of the European Court of Justice.
Asked why the FKNK was insisting on finch trapping, Mr Perici Calascione said the hunters’ lobby believed it was their right and that a derogation was possible.
“The government is trying to help us on this and we will continue to insist on it,” he said.