The government has granted hunters more concessions for this year’s spring hunting season over and above the recommendations made by the Ornis Committee.

The Ornis Committee recommended a spring hunting season with the same conditions as last year.

Yet the government went further, permitting hunting this spring on Sundays and public holidays for the first time in seven years.

Hunting on Sundays and public holidays was banned as a result of the framework legislation governing spring hunting derogations, agreed with the European Commission following the verdict by the European Court of Justice.

Birdlife Malta yesterday accused the government of succumbing to pressure by the hunting lobby. “The changes reflect demands made by the FKNK directly to the government and fly in the face of the purpose of the framework legislation which is to try to ensure that the spring hunting derogation is controlled, limited and sustainable,” Birdlife conservation manager Nicholas Barbara said.

Application forms and guidelines for spring hunting are already available on the hunting association’s online forum before these have been published by the Wild Birds Regulation Unit, Birdlife said.

The spring hunting season for turtle dove and quail will open from April 12 and close at the end of the month.

Hunting is allowed from two hours before sunrise till 2pm on weekdays, and till noon on Sundays and public holidays. Reacting to Birdlife’s statement, the government defended its decision saying the total number of permitted hunting hours this spring is less than last year.

The government also denied it was defying the parameters of the spring hunting derogation.

The hunters’ federation (FKNK) welcomed the government’s decision saying it had welcomed the gist of its proposals.

It said the ban on Sundays and public holidays had been “discriminatory”.

“Migrating birds do not distinguish between Sundays and public holidays, and undertake their journey according to climatic conditions,” the FKNK said.