One of Malta’s main hunting lobby groups met with Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri to discuss the September turtle dove hunting season as well as other key issues for Maltese and Gozitan hunters.

Camilleri, a trapper himself and the minister in charge of government hunting policy, held two meetings with members of the Federazzjoni Kaċċaturi Nassaba Konservazzjonisti (FKNK) in Gozo.

In one meeting, members from the ministry as well as members from the Wild Birds Regulation Unit – which Camilleri oversees – were present.

The length of the September season for turtle doves as well as an upcoming project focused on songbirds meant to begin in Autumn were on the agenda.

Both FKNK and Camilleri agreed on the legal and practical measures currently in place, saying that the data being gathered by hunters and trappers during this season would contribute to better sustainability in both projects.

FKNK urged anyone who wanted to participate in the songbird research to apply before 3rd September.

Parliamentary data from 2019 shows that there were 12,161 registered hunters on the island, with Gozo itself having a high proportion of hunters.