As the new executive director of Birdlife Malta I had hoped that a new cooperative relationship could be forged with the hunting lobby. I am still hopeful that this can eventually happen, but I feel it is in the public interest that the inaccuracies and misinformation contained in the letters you published on December 29 are countered.

Firstly, Raymond Zammit argues that Birdlife Malta is opposed to all hunting, and to make his point attributes to me an article about starlings by nature writer Paul Portelli (The Times, December 12).

While many nature lovers find the pointless and needless killing of wild birds abhorrent, Birdlife Malta bases its conservation policy on sound scientific research, evidence and the law.

When a bird is legally protected, we oppose its hunting and trapping. When the European population of any species of bird declines so that they become regarded as being of ‘conservation concern’, we take the position that it is not prudent for them to be hunted, especially in spring when they are preparing to breed and replenish their numbers. This position reflects the guidelines of the EU Birds Directive on sustainable hunting.

In his letter Lino Farrugia, FKNK general secretary, states that turtle dove spring hunting has been endorsed by the European Court of Justice. I will not bore readers here with the complex arguments about this judgment, but perhaps the crucial point is that the costs were awarded against Malta. This is hardly a ringing endorsement.

Furthermore any court judgment is based on alleged past illegalities, not activities that have yet to take place. Therefore this complex legal judgment cannot possibly be described as an endorsement of spring hunting in Malta. As we approach an election, Mr Farrugia will no doubt be stalking Malta’s political elite.

Let us hope that when he tracks them down, they will have the common sense and wisdom to not allow themselves to be entrapped by such misinformation.