Clear and unequivocal declarations on the application of a derogation for the continuation of finch trapping as from this autumn, as allowed by the EU Birds Directive were expected by the Federation for Hunting & Conservation now that EU parliamentary elections were imminent.
The FKNK said in a statement that based on these declarations, it would draw its conclusions and direct its members.
The organisation said it had taken note of the Prime Minister’s reply to a parliamentary question stating that the project of breeding of finches at the government experimental farm at Għammieri had been a success. “The next step is the granting of new and renewal of finch-trapping licences required to ensure the genetic diversity of all the finches in local aviaries,” FKNK said.
It said that the capturing of wild birds for the promotion of genetic bio-diversity and educational purposes was practised in other EU states through the application of derogations.
Similarly, and as confirmed by the EU Environment Commission representative in Malta, Malta could apply a derogation to permit finch-trapping.
The FKNK said the Maltese government was duty-bound to apply a derogation if it was serious about its declared public commitment for finch-trapping to continue.
The honour of President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, MEP Simon Busuttil and Commissioner Joe Borg, it said, was at stake. For all three had guaranteed the continuation of finch trapping.
Also at stake was the well-being of 5,000 bird trappers and their families.
The FKNK said it presented a report to the leaders of the main political parties based on the ‘compensatory measures’ principle. It also includeds the way forward for the continuation of finch-trapping.
Comments
Please repond directly without twisting facts:
1. What is so dignifying of protecting a species in Malta which will be killed in the rest of the EU?
2. Ok granted that hunting is a hobby, so this involves; killing a bird as a hobby and then consuming its flesh. In a slaughter house its simply indisciminatly killing for flesh. Since the animal being hunted is being humanly killed what differnce does it make, if it was farmed or wild? So if all of a sudden the people in the sluaghter house start enjoying their job too much, we will close it down?
For me as a hunter and yes I believe a conservative, Hunting should be focused on sustainability and humanly dispatch of the quary.
That is:
1. are the species being hunted endangered in any way?
2. Are they being tortured, in any way?
If they are not endangered in any way. Then hunting should continue, in a manner that humanly dispaces the quary.
For example I would never encourage, hunting rabbit if rabbits were decreasing. Futhermore by dog hounding it, because of the distress it causes
But if abundent enough and shoot, then I approve.
For me it makes no difference because through hunting the bird is humanly killed, unlike the way that you seem to portray it, gruesemly blasting birds, with blood being splattered all over and bla bla.
In reality birds hardly suffer, since gun wounds are typically leathal at impact.
Have you ever seen animals being transported in tiny cages in which they cannt move to be taken to the slaughter house. Have you ever seen pigs, cattle.. being transported. The distress that these animals feel is uncomparable with that of hunting. At least the hunted birds do not know what they are going to encounter unlike the slaughter awaiting animals.
Apart form that lets compair like with like, why should an EU hunter enjoy his 'delizju' as you put it, and I cannot? Because other countries in the EU primarily judge on sustainability issues. Secondy they judge on moral issues. That is if a bird species is not endangered and killed humanly, being in saulther house or taken from the wild makes no difference.
Furthermore, why doesnt anyone speak about fishing. Amature fishermen, too enjoy 'killing' fish as a hobby. Dont fish deserve the same rights as birds?
Can't see the point in your comment.
I made a statement that hunters/trappers have never bothered me in an way, shape or form. What has that got to do with being a bird?
Suggest you read the letter and the comments prior to mine then perhaps you may get the gist of my comments
Makes a difference, does it not?
I never bring the EU into the equation, when criticising hunting and trapping. Hunting and trapping is wrong because birds are killed and/or trapped. And that goes against their right to a dignified life.
Now, have you got that?
i take your word that you never had any clashed with hunters/trappers or their residue
you can also take my word however that I have felt lead shots, been verbally abused, and saw factual dangerous net strings on the ground - not to mention the abuse of habitat destruction (trapping) and killing of protected birds.
Objectively, can anyone imagine a classroom of children hiking in l-Ahrax, Qammieh, Bahrija, Dwejra or Dingli in October?
Our countryside is too limited to afford the "luxury" or shall I say vice of hunting/trapping!
If you were a bull, sheep, rabbit, chichen,pig..... in a farm you would sing a different tune.
If you were fish in the sea you would sing a diffrnt tune.
If you were.......lets keep the arguement to hunting, a bird in the UK, or in Italy, or in Spain or in the rest of the EU, you would sing a differnt tune.
But portraying a haven in the EU and hell in Malta is the only objective of the Antis. Are you aware of the Scotish campaign at reducing buzzards, sparrow hawk, ravens and other preditors. Doubt it
The issue about trapping/hunting should focus on the sustainability of the activity not on biased sentiments.
I would WELCOME a TOTAL BAN on hunting due to sustianability reasons.
I would be glad that the govt would enact a ban if hunting had to be scientifically proven to be unsutainable.
But I will never support a ban based on sensationalism (pity birds bla bla bla), crocodile tears (most of the antis dont care as the recent bird ringing by FKNK proves) and egosism (since most still kill animals by eating meat)
I am nearly 66 years old. I came to Malta on a troopship in 1962, I have been on army manouvres in Malta for 3 years (in the countryside). I visit Malta every year as I married a Maltese girl.
NEVER have I been tripped up by a trappers net, NEVER have I been showered by lead pellets and NEVER have I been verbally abused by either hunters or trappers.
In my mind this shows that "joe public" need not worry about their walks in the countryside. Of my usual stay in Malta (one month per annum) , I walk in the countryside and the same observations apply even today
Rather than condemn hunters/trappers, try approaching them and get their point of view, even if it differs from your own. Debate is so much better than confrontation.
We are all able to learn from each other.
I've always wanted to be an "apologist"
Sounds like a promotion from being a gynaecologist.
We might be missing the woods for the trees, But really to believe that nets pose a danger to public safety and all the other nonsense you so conveniently copied shows you would miss both the wood and the trees.
A walk in the countryside would do you a world of good. However do be careful, you might get caught up in a trappers net, or get showered with lead. You might even be lucky enough to be verbally abused. In fact this happens to all those that walk in the countryside. Doesn't it J.Borg?
It really is sad that no one can go out in the countryside for these reasons. Considering the hunting season ended in January and trapping in December. What you say is nonsense.
You’re missing the woods for the trees again
Since the article made reference to “rights”, it was pertinent to also refer to the RIGHT that is currently at stake due to the ongoing case that our spineless government is sustaining at the European Court – or have you already given up on it?
To satisfy your courosity and possibly brighten up your day again….trapping induces the following abuses -
razing down tracts of land so that they lay their traps
trapping birds indiscriminately of their species.
induce danger to the public by laying nets over which one can topple
verbally abused anyone “scaring” away birds
increase taxes to finance ALE officers trying to deter criminal trappers
increase taxes to finance MTA budget to mitigate the negative publicity such abuse trappers induce
increase taxes to finance any fines imposed by the EU because of the main political parties' appeasement of trappers
Alas I concede that it can be less harmful than hunting – considering that the fields are not littered with lead and that such activities do not affect a wider areas than one’s own plot.
me…..
Cut the crap, will you.
Nobody threatens the right of the general public to enjoy our limited countryside. The threat exists in the mind of armchair critics who rarely bother to go there.
People carry and use shotguns on their property, which may be private, rented, or leased from the government.
These days the police are omnipresent in the countryside to prevent abuse.
Lead-contaminated soil does not exist because lead oxidizes. If anything it’s a wetland that can be so contaminated, but in Malta since ‘wetlands’ are now in BirdLife’s hands there isn’t much chance of that happening.
Unlike you, your BirdLife friends do not mind paying even more taxes. They recently proposed a wildlife crimes unit be set up in addition to the ALE.
If the MTA budget was increased, it’s “to mitigate the negative publicity” generated by people like you, BirdLife Malta and the not-so-royal RSPB.
The EU has not imposed fines because of “appeasement of hunters”.
You have established that J Borg is a lady. I am quite surprised that a "person" , unlike yourself, has any knowledge between hunting and trapping. If J Borg is a lady, perhaps "she" should get her facts together before putting pen to paper. Her? inane comments leave a lot to be desired.
Here we go again with the usual ad nauseam rants about the freedom of the countryside.. A freedom which nobody has ever denied you as far as I am concerned. But still you harp on about not being able to enjoy it. Your arguments are continually tuned in to the same boring wavelength and in this case TOTALLY out of point and with no relevance to the subject in question.. Ah well.. as John Matthews correctly points out, every letter deserves some humour !!
Oh yes .. btw we are all not ashamed to write our full names.. I wonder whether we will ever have the privilege to get to know yours.. At least in that way we could be on first name basis since you seem to be omnipresent in every hunting blog on this paper !!
Are you the one people are expected to take seriously?
The agreement re trapping also involves the breeding of finches in captivity and allows for the capture of wild specimens to ensure the genetic biodiversity of the birds bred in captivity.
To give you an example in human terms. Would you consider starting a family by copulating with your sister or mother. Certainly not. I presume. It's the same thing with birds, trappers have learnt through education that bringing in new blood from the wild birds they capture will ensure healthy offspring. a lack of new blood, known in layman's terms as inbreeding, will result in:
a) reduced fertility and
b) increased susceptibility to disease. offspring.
So it seems you are not conversant with genetic biodiversity, probably due to lack of education in the subject.
You see, it has nothing to do with whales or loggers, it a matter of the birds and the bees!
I'm sincerely beginning to believe you do need some fresh countryside air. The subject here is trapping - NO SHOTGUNS and NO LEAD. Unless of course you assumed trappers used guns to trap Song Birds you are again, saying complete nonsense.
Hunting is not due to start until September. So what is stopping you from your country walks? Certainly not the hunters.
"The one and only wise MMB"
nahseb li ghandek bzonn xi dizjonarju ghax kacca mhux insib
@ RAMON CASHA
kellek bzonn ghandek il pacenza li ghandu nassab forsi xi darba ikollok idea ta fuq xiex qedt titkellem.
limited or not, The country side where I hunt is Private. and huntin/trapping or not you are NOT welcome to enjoy it in any way.
Keep to the subject.
Finch trappers do not contaminate the land with lead.
Finch trappers do not treathen endangered species.
Finch trappers act in a stationary manner so ALE do not have to spend much time to find them. Apart from the fact that calling birds attract both birds and police officers if the practice is illegal.
Also there are no EU fines if an EU Derogation is correctly applied.
So stop twisting facts to implement you personal agenda.
Keep to the truth or you ran out of bullets ?
If you go up to a trapper with his nets and mention "genetic biodiversity" he'll probably think you're talking about some virulent disease.
Oh, and we must not forget that at stake is the well-being of the trappers and their families. Everybody knows that they will all starve unless they can trap their finches.
How does FKNK expect anyone to take it seriously with statements like this?
faced with the danger of people carrying and using shotguns
verbally abused by such twisted personification of Smart Malta
showered with lead
compelled to eat vegetables from a lead contaminated soil
compelled to pay taxes to finance ALE officers trying to deter criminal hunters
compelled to finance MTA budget to mitigate the negative publicity such criminal hunters induce
compelled to finance any fines imposed by the EU because of the main political parties' appeasement of hunters.