Duck hunt ends in hefty fine, hunting licence suspension

Two men from Gozo have been fined and had their hunting licences suspended after they admitted to having tried to smuggle a dead protected species of bird in their luggage after a 2014 hunting trip.

Magistrate Antonio Vella heard how Joseph Curmi from Zebbug, Gozo and Godwin Curmi from Victoria, Gozo had been apprehended on 23 December 2014 at the Malta International Airport, upon their return from a hunting trip to Romania. Environment and Resource Authority (ERA) and Customs officials had discovered dead Ferruginous Ducks amongst the men’s belongings, which the men had not declared.

The Ferruginous Duck is a protected species under EU wildlife trade regulations. The two men failed to produce any documents proving that the birds had been acquired legally.

The men were found guilty after filing an admission in court today and were fined €1500 each, having their hunting licences suspended for 2 years. The birds were confiscated.

Insp Colin Sheldon prosecuted. Lawyer Charles Galea was defence counsel.