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'More protected birds shot this season than in the past three' - BirdLife Malta
BirdLife Malta and CABS today released initial results from their respective conservation camps that covered this year’s spring hunting period, which showed an increase in illegal shooting of protected birds.
7 May 2011, 12:00am
Miriam Dalli
Miriam Dalli
2 min read
In a statement, BirdLife Malta (BLM) said the results from the conservation camps show the open hunting season resulted in a dramatic increase in the illegal shooting of protected birds.
“Through the camps, BLM and CABS recorded nearly 950 shots outside hunting hours, 61 protected birds being shot at, and 52 protected birds with gunshot injuries in flight,” BLM’s campaign coordinator Geoffrey Saliba said.
“During the hunting season alone BirdLife Malta received 22 shot protected birds,” Saliba said.
According to BLM, more protected birds were seen shot at this year. The open season also resulted in more shot protected birds sent to BLM. “The amounts received surpass the number of shot birds during the same periods of the past three years combined, when the hunting season was either closed or boycotted,” BLM said.
BLM said the organisations also recorded other illegalities such as the use of cage traps, shotguns capable of firing more than three rounds, and hunters not wearing the obligatory armband. “[We] recorded illegalities in 89% of locations visited,” Saliba said.
The data collected is based solely on the camp participants, Saliba informed: “Reports by local members and members of the public will be analysed at a later stage.”
MEPA recently announced only 1,842 Turtle Dove and 366 Quail were reported killed by around 5,600 hunters during this spring's 15 day season (3). Amid accusations that this declared catch is very low, the hunting lobby has blamed this low catch on a poor migration.
BLM and CABS however recorded a good migration in general.
Referring to the statements, BLM Executive Director Paul Debono said: “The SMS system has been widely criticised – even by the hunters themselves. It is clear to us that once again self regulation by hunters has failed as shown by the low figures recorded by MEPA. How is the Commission to take these figures seriously?”
BLM and CABS also highlighted the apprehension of two hunters with more shot Quail than legally permissible following reports made by BLM and the recording of 37 illegal electronic tape lures in the countryside.
CABS President Heinz Schwarze said: “These devices are used for large scale hunting and they are therefore banned by the European Commission. Their widespread use in the Maltese countryside this spring clearly shows that many hunters were out to hunt more many more birds that the legally permissible 1 bird per day.”
BLM’s Spring Watch ran from the 10th to the 24th April while CABS operations ran from 22nd April to 2nd May. BLM had six teams while CABS had four teams in the field at any time. “Therefore only a small part of Malta and Gozo was covered,” Saliba said.
The two organizations will be presenting the European Commission with a joint report on the illegalities observed during this open hunting season in the coming weeks.
Miriam Dalli joined MaltaToday.com.mt in 2010 becoming assistant editor f...
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MF, you think that by banning hunting you are going to be able to come and picnic on my land? Better think again.
My land is not in a poppulated area and therefore does not affect what you are saying!!
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I hope they understand that not every shot fired means a bird was caught. I saw a guy shoot at half a dozen birds with out a kill so 18shots - nil birds. Then he got board and started to throw rocks in the air and shoot at them, I think as target practice after his failure. But he shot at least another 50 shots. Are BLM and CABS counting these as birds shot as well.
Wenzu is right, the hunters did shoot at their own feet this year by excepting these rules. But a lie is a lie and I am sure BLM and CABS are lieing through their teeth to discriminate the Maltese Hunter. I for one will never hunt in Malta again, for a couple hundred euro I can fly to a european country and shoot as much as I want without having to send SMS's and the rest of the bulls**t the government has imposed on us. It feels like we are under the Gaddafi regime already on this small island. Laws are said to be European, then you go to another European country and you see this does not exsist.
Luke Camilleri •
I bet no sms were sent to report these shot birds.....
Would you truly believe a Maltese Hunter seeing a couple of quail shoots one sends an sms, picks it up and goes home with the catch of the day?
If you believe that you believe Eddie and Gonzi's Electoral Pledges.... you'll believe ANYTHING!
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If anything has been shot this season. it is the hunters' own feet!
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It would have been wise if on the forthcoming Divorce referendum , other hot items of national social interests were added. banning hunting would have been included. enough of this massacre. for the umpteenth time. the islands are highly densly populated and over built. the days of hunting is over on these tiny islands. either go elsewhere ( as am not against controlled hunting) or else find another sport to practice. am sure there are still a lot of aquatic sports and activities that one can indulge into.
