Hunters ‘days away from agreement with Labour’ – BirdLife

The federation of hunters and trappers may be only days away from entering into a formal agreement with the Labour Party on a number of sensitive issues concerning hunting, Birdlife Malta warned.

Already there have been a number of meetings between hunters and individual Labour candidates, BLM director Steve Micklewright told the press in a symbolic activity outside the law court in Valletta.

Separately, the Labour Party has promised to waive the EUR50 licence fee for hunting in spring.

Micklewright voiced his concern that among the issues discussed at  meetings with PL candidates was the possible removal of the 3pm curfew for hunting in the autumn season.

This, he said, would be the equivalent of 'facilitating wildlife crime', as the species which may be legally targeted in autumn ( i.e., 41 species, including turtle dove and quail) are more commonly encountered in the morning.

"Early afternoon is the time when birds of prey will be looking for trees in which to roost," he explained, adding that this means they are also at their most vulnerable.

Removing the 3pm curfew would only serve to encourage hunters to break the law.

BLM also complained about a surge in illegal hunting and trapping in recent years. In 2012, the NGO received no fewer than 101 protected birds suffering from gunshot injuries. It is estimated that this represents only a small fraction of the total number of protected birds targeted by hunters.

In the course of the same year there were over 2,000 recorded instances of illegal hunting and trapping.

Micklewright further revealed that a staggering 95% of all trapping sites in areas which form part of Natura 2000 sites are geared up for the illegal trapping of finches.