Hunters and trappers are expected to take to the streets in protest, on instructions of the Federation for Hunting and Conservation. Deeming the protests as �necessary�, the Federation has blamed BirdLife Malta for prompting trouble between the hunters, government and police. The Federation also said that it feels that the Police are needlessly bothering hunters and trappers. The details of the protests are yet to be unveiled.
Last week, the Federation pulled out of a meeting with the Ornis Committee to protest against current hunting regulations. According to The Times of Malta the Federation said that hunters and trappers are being treated like second-class citizens in comparison to their EU counterparts.
The Federation also called on Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs George Pullicino to amend the hunting regulations, claiming that they went above the requirements of the Birds Directive. A series of weekly technical meetings were held between the Federation and the government in an attempt to amend the regulations.
Recently BirdLife recent voiced its distaste against a police memorandum instructing a temporary ban from pressing charges against hunters caught breaking certain aspects of the law. The memo was later retracted.
BirdLife President Joseph Mangion and a spokesman for the Ministry of Environment and Rural Affairs are yet to comment about the issue.
See also:
EU opens second hunting complaint file on Malta
By MaltaMedia News
Nov 18, 2006, 12:01 CET
Illegal hunters intercepted by AFM
By MaltaMedia News
Nov 1, 2006, 15:13 CET
Birdlife files judicial protest against authorities
By MaltaMedia News
Oct 20, 2006, 18:54 CET
