Updated 22 May with AD statement
In view of the "perceived decline" of turtle dove and the subsequent classification of the species as "vulnerable”, two hunting organisations today urged the government to declare a voluntary moratorium on the species.
And at a press conference this morning, the hunters' federation (FKNK) also said it was informed the European Commission would be taking the issue of turtle dove hunting once again to the European Court of Justice.
Kaccaturi San Ubertu said the moratorium should remain in force until sustainability of limited spring hunting of this species is scientifically proven. This decision follows a call for restrictions on the spring hunting of turtle dove by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as well as by Commissioner Karmenu Vella.
The FKNK said it was choosing the lesser of two evils to ensure the Maltese government does not lose the case of spring hunting at EU level.
KSU called upon hunting organisations in other EU countries that hunt turtle dove to follow suit and appeal to their governments for similar measures to restrict hunting of this species to levels that can be scientifically proven to be sustainable.
"Though hunting is a minor issue when compared to the main threats resulting from widespread bad agricultural practices and habitat loss, KSU commends the Commission’s pledge to “make full use of all its instruments to tackle all relevant causes for this decline.”
'We've been saying it for a long time' - BirdLife
In a statement issued this afternoon, BirdLife Malta welcomed hunters' change of heart but chastised the government for its inaction.
"Facts are facts and cannot be ignored," the organisation said. "And the scientific facts are that the European Turtle Dove status has been classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature."
"The Maltese government should have applied the moratorium a long time ago based on the scientific facts available and should not have waited for a lobby group to pronounce itself to take action," BirdLife said.
It also had a dig at the FKNK's previous denials of any problems with Turtle Dove populations.
"The fact that the Turtle Dove’s status has been changed because its population has declined considerably and is today in a vulnerable situation is not denied by anyone. Except, that is, for FKNK," BirdLife said.
It noted that the change of heart came after the European Commission had sent the Maltese government a warning, "implying that this could be the first of a series of actions leading to another court case for spring hunting to be abolished completely once and for all."
"We expect the Maltese Government and the European Commission to listen to scientific facts and take action accordingly," the statement concluded.
'We never agreed with BirdLife': FKNK
The hunters' federation this evening clarified that it was only calling for the moratorium because the EU was "playing the bully" with the Maltese government, and not because it believed there was any problem with Turtle Dove population numbers.
"The 5,000 Turtle Doves we're allowed to hunt will never negatively affect a global population that numbers 71,000,000 (BirdLife's figure)," the FKNK statement read.
"But since the EU wants to play the bully with Malta, and because we don't want to give anyone the opportunity to ruin our spring Turtle Dove hunt, the FKNK chose the lesser of two evils."
The federation said it would continue to prepare various studies that would scientifically prove its claims.
'Shame it took hunters so long': AD
Alternattiva Demokratika welcomed the hunters' call for a moratorium, saying that it was a pity both they and the two major political parties had taken "so long to come to terms with this reality".
It said that data clearly showed that quails and particularly turtle dove population numbers were in decline.
"Shooting down birds on their way to breed is already unjustified on its own merits let alone when same species of birds killed is dwindling in numbers," AD Animal Welfare spokesman Simon Galea said.