Hunters were 'misled' by government - FKNK

The Federation for Hunting & Conservation (FKNK) secretary general Lino Farrugia today said that the terms for the spring hunting season are "unacceptable" but added that the federation will not deny hunters "their right to hint in spring."

"These decisions were taken by the Maltese government and were not imposed on us by any EU directive. We will keep insisting with the government to make sure that Maltese hunters enjoy the full benefits of spring hunting derogations," Farrugia said.

Farrugia, flanked by FKNK's president Joe Perici Calascione, said that the federation was "misled" by the government in the discussions held in recent weeks. He explained that the federation does not agree with the season's length, the individual quota imposed on hunters and the fee for the required special license. 

Earlier this week, the government announced that the spring season will open between Thursday, 12 April and Monday 30 April, both days included. The national hunting bag limit for spring 2012 has been established at not more than 11,000 turtle doves and 5,000 quails. The government however said that the season shall be terminated immediately by means of a press release should this national bag limit be reached before the 30 April 2012.

Farrugia, the federation's general secretary, told a press conference this morning that FKNK had been led to believe by the government that the season would be longer, but that did not happen. FKNK had proposed a 30 day season starting from 7 April to 7 May and also expressed its disagreement with the individual quota set at four birds in the whole season and the catch has to be reported to MEPA.

Perici Calascione explained that the quota set by the government does not reflect the mathematical and scientific methods required to work the quota. He said that the quota for birds should be set at 1% of the species' mortality rate. "This should work out at around 79,000 for turtle doves and 120,000 for quails," Perici Calascione said.  

Farrugia and Perici Calascione urged hunters to observe the law and said law-breaking members will be disciplined. "Hunters should obey police orders and the law," Farrugia said.

The federation also hit out at the special license fee of €50, needed to hunt in spring, since hunters already paid fees and licences. The federation lobbied to get the fee removed however the government did not budge to the request.

Some 6000 hunters have already applied for this year's spring hunting in the first two days of registration this week.

Farrugia also expressed his disagreement at the prohibition of hunting on Sundays and public holidays and said that hunters especially hunters who only hunt on weekends should not be barred from hunting.