The “disappointment” of the referendum result will not deter the Committee against Bird Slaughter (CABS) from fighting any illegal hunting activity during the spring open season starting today.
A spokeswoman for CABS said that 24 foreign observers, mainly European, will be patrolling the main hunting and poaching areas in Malta and Gozo as from Friday and reporting all breaches of the law that they spot.
Now that the hunters have got their way, were CABS observers more likely to be met with hostility from some members of the hunting community? The observers expect the contrary to happen, said the spokeswoman. “Now that the hunters are so happy with the result we expect them to collaborate more with us to make sure that illegalities are not permitted.
“I think we are in a much safer situation now. They (hunters) have no reason to create any problems for us. With the positive result they got they have every incentive to behave well.”
I think we are in a much safer situation now. They (hunters) have no reason to create any problems for us
Armed with binoculars, mobile phones and video cameras, CABS volunteers will observe hunters’ activities and document all suspected infringements.
As soon as a culprit can be identified, the environmental police unit, known as the Administrative Law Enforcement unit, will be informed so that they can come on the scene and investigate.
Though legal, the presence of these volunteers in close proximity to hunting activity is tolerated by hunters but hardly welcomed.
In the past, several incidents between the two sides have been reported to the police.
In spring 2010, the tension escalated into violent attacks by masked men resulting in damage to rental cars and injury to volunteers.
The CABS monitoring camp has been held in Malta every spring since 2001 and every autumn since 2007.
CABS operations in Malta are funded from donations collected mainly in Germany.
Following the referendum, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat issued a warning to hunters that abuse will not be permitted. He said the people had given honest hunters a last chance to practise their sport but they had to realise that the game had now changed.
Malta allows hunting in spring through a derogation of the EU’s birds’ directive.