Hunters welcome Ornis committee’s recommendation to open spring hunt

Kaccaturi San Ubertu (KSU) has welcomed the ORNIS Committee’s decision recommending the application of a derogation for spring hunting this season.

Both the quail and the turtledove have recently been classified as ‘vulnerable’ and KSU has recommended a “precautionary reduction in daily hunting hours”. Their recommendations included the introduction of wider scientific studies backed by a compensatory breeding programme for the turtle-dove – both funded by hunters – but recommended no changes to the current quail hunting season.

“These recommendations reflect the fact that the hunting of the quail is unaffected by the reclassification of turtle dove. Though still considered as a species that can be hunted and classified as vulnerable, the lack of scientific data on turtle dove is highlighted by the International Union of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN),” KSU said.

The group noted Birdlife Malta’s vote at the ORNIS Committee in favour of special measures to further reduce the impact of spring hunting.

KSU argued that after their direct involvement to ban the practice, Birdlife “still fail” to recognize that special measures – namely a short time frame, small quotas and strict supervision – are already in practice.

These determine that, in comparison to two to three million turtle doves shot by other member states, Malta’s derogation implements special measures “in line with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling” that ensure a negligible impact in spring.

Being aware of derogation parameters related to any reclassification in status, KSU augured that government carefully assessed Malta’s very “specific circumstances” referred to by the ECJ when endorsing Malta’s right to derogate.

KSU contended that any unnecessary limitations only impinge on the ECJ’s judgment permitting a “satisfactory solution” for Maltese hunters in spring on two specific species.