Maltese hunters are insisting on their ‘right to hunt’ and pursue their ‘traditional’ pastime in spring, even if this goes against EU regulations.
Reuters reports that despite the implementation of the EU Birds Directive in Malta earlier this month, Maltese hunters have vowed to fight for their right to hunt migratory turtle-dove and quail in the spring,
"We have requested a meeting with the prime minister to insist that common sense should prevail," secretary of Malta hunters' federation, Lino Farrugia, told Reuters.
"We clearly are not harming any species and therefore we should continue to enjoy our right to hunt. The EU has not stopped hunting anywhere, except where bird flu has been actually detected," he said.
The hunting issue in Malta has resurfaced following the outbreak of bird flu in several European countries. However no birds infected with the deadly H5N1 virus have been reported in Malta.
"No one should scare the hunters over whether hunting will be allowed, because that could lead them not to report suspicious birds,” Lino Farrugia told Reuters.
The Maltese government did not ban spring hunting last month.
See also:
Hunting season to be shortened
by MaltaMedia - Apr 3, 2006, 10:59
Government not to suspend spring hunting
by MaltaMedia - Mar 20, 2006, 16:05
© Copyright 2005 - MaltaMedia Online Network
Top of Page
| 
