Demand that Malta respects the EU law and stops killing of protected birds
 Joe Zammit Lucia
Illegal hunting in Malta is a serious concern for the BirdLife International Partnership.
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In Europe and Africa, wild birds and their habitats are protected through the efforts of conservation organisations and governments that are spending millions of Euros to ensure their future.
These same birds migrate from Europe to Africa every autumn, travelling thousands of kilometres to spend the winter in warmer climates. Every spring, they migrate back to Europe to breed and replenish their numbers.
During each journey, the migratory birds are in peril as they fly over Malta, where they continue to be gunned down. Every year, protected species are killed; every spring and every autumn. Law enforcement is under resourced and unable to control the scale of illegal hunting.
There are nearly 15,000 hunters and bird trappers on the small island.
Whereas spring hunting is not permitted under the EU Birds Directive because this is the breeding season and a chance for birds to replenish their numbers, Malta has opened the spring hunting season every year since it joined the EU in 2004.
Over the last years, BirdLife Malta has been instrumental in ensuring that Malta strengthens its bird protection laws through its public and advocacy campaigns.
Spring hunting was not allowed in 2008 and 2009 thanks to an interim measure issued by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Last year, the ECJ found that Malta had been in breach of European law for allowing spring hunting (of turtle dove and quail) without meeting the conditions of a derogation since it became a member state.
In spite of this, the Maltese government is still considering opening what it calls a “limited spring hunting season” in 2010. The government also continues to undermine the true scale and seriousness of illegal hunting.
BirdLife Malta and the BirdLife International Partnership are determined to ensure that the advances made are not reversed.
This is where you come in...
Unless we protect the migratory ‘flyways’ over the Mediterranean, conservation efforts in Europe and Africa are in vain. This is because170 bird species regularly migrate over Malta. When they reach Malta, these birds are at their weakest. Many will try to rest on Malta and feed to build up their strength for the last leg of their journey. Instead, many meet their death.
Last September, volunteers from BirdLife Malta and another bird conservation group (CABS) found the remains of over 200 protected birds buried in a woodland used as hunting grounds.
The remains included marsh harriers, honey-buzzards and night herons among other protected species. And this case is only one example that reflects the true scale of the illegal killing of protected birds in Malta.
BirdLife Malta is a small organisation that is on the front line against the aggressive hunting lobby. Their staff and volunteers have suffered intimidation, criminal damage, arson attacks and violence. A BirdLife Ranger has been shot at and injured twice over the last two years.
BirdLife Malta does not give up and continues to work under very difficult circumstances – so we should also not give up and continue supporting our partner in Malta.
TAKE ACTION NOW AND SIGN THE PETITION
To Dr Lawrence Gonzi - Prime Minister of Malta
Mr Prime Minister,
Do not bring renewed shame on Malta!
We urge you not to harm EU nature conservation laws for a few votes from the hunting minority.
We urge you to comply with EU law through Maltese legislation.
We urge you to ensure all hunting legislation is fully enforced.
We urge you never to allow spring shooting or trapping of European Turtle-dove and Common Quail again.