Robert Abela Has ‘Lost The Plot On Hunting Or Simply Doesn’t Care’, BirdLife Malta Says
BirdLife Malta has accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of not caring about hunting or simply having lost the plot on the matter.
This comes just a day ahead of the opening of the Autumn hunting season, with multiple illegalities having been reported over the last months.
“Prime Minister Robert Abela has lost the plot on hunting or simply doesn’t care,” BirdLife Malta said.
“The autumn hunting season 2022 is set to open tomorrow 1st September with enforcement lacking, permitting hunting on the Vulnerable European Turtle-dove (Gamiema) against EU advice and shunning the ORNIS Committee,” it said.
Birdlife Malta also revealed that the Ornis Committee has not even met since May when FKNK’s CEO Lino Farrugia allegedly assaulted the Head of WBRU Richard Lia during a heated exchange.
“The Government’s decision to steam ahead with the season follows meetings held directly between the hunting federation, the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU) and the Ministry for Gozo, shunning the ORNIS Committee,” it claimed.
“Hunters are expected to keep to a quota while illegalities have already marred the autumn bird migration period with enforcement absent as a flock of Black Kites sought refuge on the Maltese islands last week and was targeted by illegal hunting.”
Just a few days ago, hunters were accused of illegally killing a flock of protected birds, both in Malta and also in Gozo. Following the massacre, BirdLife Malta sent an open letter to the Prime Minister, asking for the season-opening to be postponed.
“Government is legislating hunting based on the Ministry for Gozo’s decision, that chooses to consult singularly with the hunting federation, commanding WBRU’s operations across the Maltese Islands,” BirdLife CEO Mark Sultana said.
“The Prime Minister has simply taken a back seat letting the Gozo Ministry ignore EU advice and shun the ORNIS Committee, while illegalities are being recorded daily.”
BirdLife President Daryl Grima also similarly said that the season should be postponed, given that it seems authorities are lacking resources to enforce.
“Since it is abundantly clear that the police are not in a position to enforce the law, the hunting season should not open before mid-October when the majority of birds migrating are protected species,” Grima said.
BirdLife Malta has still not heard any reaction or answer from the Prime Minister after it wrote to him last week in the wake of illegalities.
Illegal hunting and trapping incidents are to be reported to BirdLife Malta on 2134 7646 or 7925 5697 (outside office hours) or directly to the police on 119 asking for the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU).
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