Ornis’ decision to recommend opening of spring hunting season ‘an indecent proposal’

The Ornis Committee’s decision to recommend opening a spring hunting season this year, despite an upcoming referendum on the issue, is an indecent decision, the Spring Hunting Out (SHout) campaign argued yesterday.

Members of the SHout campaign held a press conference outside Hexagon House – which houses Mepa’s Environment Protection Directorate and which was the venue of the Ornis Committee meeting – and nailed a symbolic “notification of indecent proposal” to the building’s entrance.

This “proposal”, mirroring Mepa’s own development notifications, was ostensibly filed by FKNK CEO Lino Farrugia, and calls, “for the introduction of spring hunting in spite of the scientific evidence that bans spring hunting in Malta and a referendum to be held on 11 April, 2015.”

Addressing the press, SHout spokesman Saviour Balzan said that Ornis’ decision was indecent for two reasons.

He said that the committee was sending a wrong message by forging ahead with the recommendation in contempt of an ongoing democratic process, stating that it was doing so as a result of pressure by hunters. The FKNK, as well as BirdLife Malta, are represented in the committee, with a government-appointed chairman and a Mepa representative holding the balance of power.

But Mr Balzan also insisted that the decision was also indecent since it went against exhaustive scientific evidence that proved that alternatives to spring hunting existed and that there should be no hunting at a time when many species of birds are on their way to breed.

Fellow SHout campaigner Moira Delia also condemned the Ornis Committee as undemocratic, stating that the committee was apparently assuming that the public’s decision would be in favour of spring hunting.

She appealed for people to vote ‘No’ to spring hunting on 11 April, pointing out that over 40,000 people have signed a petition to be able to do so.