A spring hunting season for quails and turtle doves has been announced from April 12 to 30, both days included.
In a statement this afternoon, the government said it was opening the season after it considered an Ornis Committee recommendation and the legal provisions regulating hunting.
In line with recommendation submitted by the Committee, and after taking into account data pertaining to the autumn 2011 season, the national hunting bag limit for spring 2012 has been established at not more than 11,000 turtle doves and 5,000 quails. Should the limit be reached before the end of the season, the season would be terminated immediately by means of a press release.
The government said Mepa shall be issuing a special licence for the season to all eligible applicants as per procedure established by law.
This non-transferrable licence would permit the hunting of just turtle dove and quail. Only the holders of a valid carnet de chasse (licence to hunt birds) were be eligible for the special licence.
Those eligible may apply between April 4 and 5 at any MaltaPost branch in Malta and Gozo, during the normal business hours. Upon submission of the application form, the applicant is required to pay €50 Special Licence fee and must present his or her identity card and Carnet de Chasse booklet for 2012-2013.
Compliance with the relevant provisions of the Special Licence during the season shall be monitored and supervised by the police and hunting marshals appointed by Mepa. An independent ornithological monitoring study shall be carried out during the period to provide additional scientific assessment of migration flows of turtle dove and quail and to help in verification of enforcement measures.
The government said it would continue in its efforts to ensure strict supervision and enforcement of the conditions for allowing this spring hunting season, including through the enforcement measures which were applied last year.
Licensed hunters would be required to wear numbered armbands and carry their spring hunting license at all times, report their catches through an SMS system and through their Carnet de Chasse before leaving the hunting zone and abide by time restrictions and a daily bag limit of two birds and a season bag limit of four birds.
The police and hunting marshals shall monitor closely the observance of hunting regulations and conditions.
The government said it demanded nothing short of strict compliance with the hunting regulations established at law and infringements would not be tolerated.
"It is the duty of each and every individual hunter to comply and adhere vigorously with the law. It is in the interest of hunting organisations and of individual hunters to ensure that no illegal hunting takes place since this would otherwise jeopardise any possible future hunting derogation.
"It is to be recalled that Malta is the only EU member sState for which the Court of Justice of the EU has accepted that a spring hunting derogation for turtle dove and quail may be justifiable," the government said.