The Prime Minister of Malta who is responsible for the hunting issue has said in a radio interview that he doesn’t know why the EU Commission disagrees with his government’s plans to allow a three week spring hunting season for 25,000 birds.
Referring to a report that the Commission is considering fresh legal action against Malta, Dr Lawrence Gonzi said he informed the Commission months ago that the government intended to allow a three week hunting season next year. He added that he had presented scientific workings to back the decision. However, the Commission disagreed with the numbers given and reserved the right to institute fresh court action.
The court had said that Malta could have a spring hunting season under strict rules and limits, and according to the Prime Minister this is what the government intends to do.
However, the Prime Minister did not make any reference to the illegal hunting and trapping by poachers which is rampant in Malta both during the open season and also when the season is closed. Max Farrugia, IAR’s Chairman in Malta, emphasised that this is an extremely serious aspect of this issue which must be addressed, and that clearly the longer the season, the higher the number of protected species that will be killed.
Farrugia added that both the Malta Government and the Opposition in Malta are in favour of a spring hunting season, cynically using a minority’s bloodlust as a ploy to win votes in the coming elections.