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For those who are not familiar with EU law on this subject, a background will help.

EU law on the protection of wild birds dates back to the 1970s. Contrary to popular perception, the purpose of this law is not to ban hunting, but to ensure that hunting is sustainable and does not endanger specific species of wild birds. Hunting therefore needs to be regulated and proper enforcement of hunting rules must be ensured. This does not mean that hunting should be banned. Simply that large scale shooting and capture of birds should be controlled. The law also lists birds that are protected and others that can be hunted. It also deals with methods of hunting and trade in birds.

Hunting has long been a controversial issue when it comes to EU membership. In Malta, the hunting lobby is very strong. Hunters often claimed that they oppose EU membership because it would ban hunting in Spring which is the time of the year when hunting is most possible in our country. By contrast, environmentalists have been less vociferous, but equally clear in their position they oppose hunting and argue that illegal hunting in Malta is rampant and should be controlled.

During negotiations Malta had to strike a delicate balance between these two divergent positions. It claimed that it accepted to apply EU law on the protection of birds. But within the framework of this law, it wanted to ensure that hunting and trapping should be maintained after membership.

As a result, therefore, after membership Maltese hunters will continue to be able to hunt in Spring. In Malta, hunting is also allowed between in Autumn between September and the end of January each year. This season will not be affected after Malta's entry into the EU.

Apart from turtledoves and quail, hunting is also possible on another thirty species or so, mostly hunted in Autumn. These include the skylark (alwett), the song thrush (malvizz), the golden plover (pluviera) and the woodcock (gallina). This too will not be affected and can continue after Malta's entry into the EU. However, hunting in Spring will be limited to turtledove and quail, which are the two main species that are hunted at that time of the year. This means that other species will be protected during Spring.

Hunting at sea will also continue to be allowed, although Malta committed itself to more enforcement to curb illegal practices.

Trapping is a traditional method of capturing songbirds through the use of personally-operated nets. They are not killed but captured and kept in captivity.

After membership, Maltese trappers will continue to be able to practice trapping for a number of songbird species. These are: the goldfinch (gardell), the green finch (verdun), the chaffinch (sponsun), the linnet (gojjin), the hawfinch (taz-zebbug), the serin (apparell) and the siskin (ekru). Trapping will continue to be allowed provided that a number of measures are implemented by the end of 2007:

First, that a full captive breeding system will be established so that birds can be bred in captivity and the tradition of keeping songbirds in captivity will be maintained. Trappers will also be trained on breeding. Secondly, that a study will be conducted to assess the sustainability of trapping and establish how many birds may be captured from the wild to maintain the genetic diversity of the birds held in captivity. Thirdly, that all trapping sites will be registered. And finally, that during this period of study no new trapping licences will be issued. However, current licence holders will not be affected.

A point that came across very clearly relates to enforcement. Malta has long suffered from a less than satisfactory enforcement record. During negotiations, Malta committed itself to enforcing hunting rules and curbing illegal practices more effectively. One should expect Malta to be regularly monitored by the Commission on this commitment.

As part of the enforcement effort, an Ornis Committee will be set up before the end of 2002 which will include representatives of hunting and environmental organisations. It will decide on important issues relating to the study that needs to be conducted on trapping and on licensing and registration. It will also coordinate the collation of the carnet de chasse (which is a note of the birds caught by each hunter) and it will be able to introduce any necessary controls on hunting and trapping in case of a serious decline in certain species. The Committee may also decide on new species which may be hunted.

Click on the pictures to see and hear more Lies

In the mean time the EU never denied that such agreement had been reached. It let all Hunters and trappers be betrayed by false promises ! So who's next ?  YOU ?

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All information and Photos here are in the public domain. Most  are taken from Wikipedia. This website is maintained by  a group of friends ( EX PN ) and has no association with the FKNK.