The hunting federation has expelled a member who earlier this week was convicted of breaking hunting regulations.

Christian Gauci, of Mellieha, was found guilty of having been in possession of a shotgun and cartridges in a protected zone.

The FKNK has cancelled his membership on the recommendation of its disciplinary board, strongly condemning his acts which it described as serious and unacceptable.

This means Mr Gauci will not be able to have his hunting licence renewed. The Commissioner of Police has been informed.

Earlier yesterday, Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes had said the board that oversees the hunting season had recommended disciplinary action against hunters guilty of breaking the law.

In another case, Edwin Vella, a hunting federation district official, was on Monday accused of carrying a loaded shotgun in a nature reserve.

He pleaded guilty and was yesterday fined €1,000. His hunting licence was suspended for a year and his shotgun was also confiscated.

The guilty plea by a hunting federation official has raised questions about the FKNK’s resolve to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to curb illegal hunting.

Mr Galdes avoided answering a direct question as to whether it was uncomfortable for the Government to be faced with a situation whereby an FKNK district official was found guilty of a hunting-related crime.

However, he said that in monitoring the hunting season, the Derogation Monitoring Board “recommended that FKNK discipline members found guilty of illegal hunting”.

After Monday’s incident, the FKNK dismissed calls by Birdlife to suspend its official, saying that discipline was an internal matter.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com