Spring hunting, only for quail, allowed between 25 March and 14 April; BirdLife reacts
Following Ornis Committee recommendations, and upon considering all applicable legal and conservation parameters, the government yesterday announced that the 2017 spring hunting season will be open for quail only, between Saturday 25 March and Friday 14 April, inclusive of both dates, between two hours before sunrise and noon.
Only those persons who are issued with a Special Spring Hunting Licence for 2017 will be permitted to hunt for quail during this season.
Eligible hunters may apply for a special licence at any MaltaPost branch in Malta and Gozo during normal branch opening hours, between Monday 27 February and Saturday 11 March, both dates included. Applications submitted after this period will not be accepted. In order to obtain this Special Licence, hunters must have, at the time of application: (a) A valid general licence to
hunt birds on land; (b) Paid-up membership in a recognised hunting organisation for 2017; (c) Valid third party liability in
surance cover for 2017; (d) Valid permit to carry a firearm for hunting of birds on land issued by the Police. Persons applying on behalf of a licensed hunter will be requested to present their ID card. Following the application procedure, special licences will be mailed to eligible applicants by post.
This non-transferrable special licence only permits the hunting of quail, and no other species. The national hunting bag limit for this season has been established at 5,000 quail. Hunters are not to exceed the daily bag limit of five quails and the seasonal bag limit of 10 quails per hunter. They will be required to report their catch by calling the telephone number specified in the special licence and follow instructions given through voice prompts.
In case of any queries, people are asked to contact the Wild Birds Regulation Unit on tel: 2292-6401/02/03; email: wildbirds@gov.mt; or at the office at 122, Quarry Street, Sta Venera.
BirdLife Malta insists that there is no scientific justification for a spring hunting season for 2017.
As stated when the Ornis Committee recommendation was made, BirdLife Malta reiterated that there is no justification for a spring hunting season as studies commissioned and paid for by the government itself show that in autumn there is a sufficient passage of quails during the first two months of the hunting season. Over and above this, the conservation value that birds migrating north to their breeding grounds should not be killed re- mains at the forefront of this position.
It is a pity that once again political promises have been given priority over these scientific facts and important conservation value which both prove why a spring hunting season for quail is not justified.
BirdLife Malta’s vote during the Ornis meeting held on 1 February was the only one against a spring hunting season for 2017. The Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK), the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), and the two independent government-chosen representatives along with the Ornis Committee Chairman all voted in favour.