Roderick Galdes should change his political title to parliamentary secretary for hunting, according to disappointed bird conservationists.
At the end of a spring hunting season that closed yesterday, Birdlife criticised Mr Galdes for saying only 18 birds were shot illegally.
Birdlife director Steve Micklewright said Mr Galdes was trying to play down the extent of illegalities perpetrated by hunters.
He insisted the number was only an indication of illegally shot birds that were recovered by Birdlife volunteers and people.
“Two more birds were recovered today [yesterday] but it is ridiculous to say that only 18 birds were killed as there must have been many others which were not recovered,” Mr Micklewright said. Giving Birdlife’s preliminary assessment of the spring hunting season, Mr Micklewright said the number of illegally shot birds and illegalities perpetrated by hunters was possibly higher than last year.
Fulfilling an electoral pledge, the Government this year removed a €50 special spring hunting licence, which prompted 3,000 more hunters to venture out.
Hunters could only shoot turtle doves and quails but Birdlife said 53 protected birds were observed shot at or gunned down but not recovered, while it picked up 20 illegally shot birds as opposed to 12 last year and 21 in 2011.
Mr Micklewright said the increase was indicative of a higher hunting intensity witnessed by volunteers during the spring watch camp organised by his organisation.
Birdlife has also recorded 600 hunters in the field outside permitted times.
He complained that seven enforcement officers per 1,000 hunters was too little but noted that the courts had meted out punishments that were harsher than previous years.“Birdlife understands the Government wants to deliver on its agreement with hunters, however, we believe it should take a fresh look at the matter. FKNK could not be trusted with enforcement and in such circumstances it would be reasonable for the Government to withdraw from the agreement,” Mr Micklewright said.
He criticised Government plans to derogate from EU rules in autumn and open a trapping season for finches.
Mr Micklewright said if the Government went down this route, Malta would be rescinding on its commitment with the EU to phase out finch trapping, something that ended in 2008.
Birdlife will be presenting its report on spring hunting to the European Commission. The Government has a month to justify the reasons why it allowed a spring hunting season and explain the outcome. Brussels will then decide whether the derogation was applied correctly or not.
Hunter resigns
The hunters’ federation has accepted the resignation of district committee member Edwin Vella after he was found guilty of hunting illegalities.
The FKNK said the resignation came as its disciplinary board was deciding on possible action against him.
Mr Vella was convicted of carrying a loaded shotgun in a nature reserve.