BirdLife Malta has called for the resignation of Louis Cilia, chairman of the Malta Ornis Committee, following what it described as his  'surprise' submission of a proposal for the opening of an extended spring hunting season as well as a trapping season.

"Only two days before today's scheduled meeting of the Ornis committee, Mr. Cilia sent his recommendations to the committee members, giving scant time for consideration of the document," BirdLife said.

In a letter to Mr Cilia, BirdLife said:  "You, as the Ornis Chairman, in your current capacity to draft recommendations for a spring hunting and trapping derogation in 2012, lack a basic realization of the facts and understanding of conservation science and EU legislation concerning the conservation of wild birds."

Mr Cilia recommended the opening of a spring hunting season even though the Carnet De Chasse figures for last autumn have not yet been published, BirdLife said.

Under the government's legal notice 113 of 2011, which sets out the general framework for spring hunting, the opening of a spring hunting season for Turtle Dove and Quail is dependent on the number of birds of these species killed during the preceding autumn season.

Mr. Cilia recommended the spring quota be set at the maximum allowable number for both species and the extension of the season by three days compared to 2011. In addition he proposed the complete removal of any daily bag limits previously established as a strict supervision condition.

"These recommendations completely disregard the reaction by EU Commissioner for Environment Janez Potočnik, who, during his visit in Malta in July 2011, stated that there was no room for relaxing the restrictions imposed on the spring hunting season of 2011," BirdLife said.

"Moreover, only a few weeks after Malta received yet another legal warning from the EC about its autumn trapping derogation, the ORNIS chairman, without any scientific or legal justification, is recommending an additional derogation for the spring trapping of Turtle Dove and Quail, which has been banned since 2008. Such a recommendation is very likely to land Malta at the European Court of Justice."

It said Mr Cilia had also said that "the hunting areas in Malta and Gozo, are very restricted", ignoring the fact that hunting in Malta is permitted in almost all of Malta's EU protected Natura 2000 sites, including cliffs and rocky shores which are important breeding grounds for Malta's seabirds, and also in agricultural land.

"He seems to be far more concerned about the 'limited area' in which people are free to roam around with shotguns than the availability of our shared countryside for the enjoyment and appreciation of the vast majority of Maltese citizens and tourists."

In his biased recommendations, Mr. Cilia, without providing any evidence, also assumes that the hunting community in Malta embodies self-regulation, Birdife said.

"We strongly believe that the Ornis Chairman position should be filled by someone who has a strong understanding of conservation science and EU legislation and who can distance himself from the political agenda surrounding the issue."

In view of the recommendations put forward by Mr Cilia, BirdLife said it will not be attending today's Ornis Committee meeting, which will be discussing the recommendation for a spring hunting and trapping season.