Over 20 volunteers from eight countries will be joining forces with BirdLife over the coming days, as Malta’s controversial spring hunting season opens for two weeks tomorrow.
BirdLife Malta’s Spring Watch teams will be monitoring the hunting season’s activities collecting vital data on this year’s spring hunting derogation, reporting any illegal activities taking place and, ultimately protecting migratory birds.
As spring migration of birds returning to Europe to breed reaches a peak in the coming days, the Maltese government has authorised a two-week hunting season, until April 30 allowing circa 10,000 hunters to hunt a total of 5,000 quail and 5,000 turtle dove.
Past spring hunting seasons have shown that government authorities cannot realistically control the amount of birds killed
“The announcement of the opening of this year’s hunting season comes as a great disappointment, particularly following the news of the turtle dove is now declared as a ‘vulnerable’ species as is listed under IUCN’s Red List,” said Nick Piludu, BLM conservation officer.
“Past spring hunting seasons have shown that government authorities cannot realistically control the amount of birds killed. A failed game-reporting system drastically puts this species at risk, going against the conservation efforts expected to safeguard this species.”
Over the past years, hunters have subsequently declared less than 5,000 turtle doves caught each and every spring hunting season.
"Over the past years, the spring hunting season served as a smokescreen for protected birds to be targeted. While hoping that no protected birds are shot during this season, we also hope the government will take the same stance it took last year when it closed the season prematurely due to a shot protected bird," BLM said.
BirdLife urged the support of the public to report any suspected illegalities by contacting the police on 119, and then BirdLife Malta on 2134 7644/6 or on the emergency (out of office hours) number 7925 5697.
Meanwhile, the Kaccaturi San Ubertu said it will adopt a zero tolerance attitude and reminded all hunters of their obligation to observe the law.
"The harsh penalties included in our hunting laws should be applied appropriately for any default by the judiciary to safeguard the interests of the law abiding hunter majority."
KSU said it will again be conducting a survey amongst its members whereby the migration of turtle dove, quail and the number of shots heard will be recorded throughout the open season. This survey will be presented to the European Commission and local authorities for their evaluation of fact.