Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1523735
4 NEWS 4 MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 JULY 2024 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt A self-reported survey by the Federation for Hunting and Con- servation (FKNK) has claimed that over 66% of turtle doves that could have been shot, were not taken by hunters. The FKNK claimed the results of the exercises in April 2022 and 2023 produced a strong sustain- able index for the hunting of tur- tle doves in spring 2022 of 0.703, meaning that over 70% of turtle doves available for harvest for hunters were not taken, and of 0.76 in spring 2023, or that over 76% of turtle doves available for harvest were not. During the 2024 turtle dove spring hunting season, the FKNK again carried out a voluntary ex- ercise among its members on the same basis as the previous two years. On each day of the open sea- son, on average 4,016 hunters were hunting, who reported the fractional average take per hunt- er at 0.34 turtle doves. The exercise values again in- dicated what FKNK said was a strong sustainable index of 0.66, meaning that over 66% of the turtle doves available for harvest by the hunters were not taken. "This is just one of the works that the FKNK continuously carries out to safeguard the tra- ditional socio-cultural passion of turtle doves' hunting in spring," FKNK chief executive Lino Far- rugia said. "Therefore, the FKNK contin- ues to encourage the coopera- tion of members whenever they are asked to collaborate such as this spring exercise, as moreover wishes to thank the substantial financial donations it receives from the same members, espe- cially those raised for the turtle doves' project." Hunters say turtle dove hunt take was 33% of spring migration harvest JobsPlus Permit Number: 548/2024 The Authority for integrity in Maltese Sports is looking for an Executive (Administration). The applicant is expected to be analytical, curious and shall have a general interest in sports. The role includes general office duties which includes procurement, purchasing and general office duties. The candidate shall be in possession of MQF Level 5 qualification (a sport qualification would be considered an asset). Furthermore, applicants shall be in possession of four (4) subjects at Ordinary Level (which must include the English Language). Applicants are expected to be able to communicate in both Maltese and English. The ideal candidate shall be IT knowledgeable, especially s/he shall know how to navigate on procurement and travel and shall be prepared to work under pressure. Interested applicants are invited to send their application via email. The application shall include a covering letter, a CV and a recent police conduct. Applications will be accepted until the 16 th of July 2024 at noon. Applications including the above-mentioned documents are to be sent to the following address: ryan.c.borg@aims.org.mt WORKS happening right now in the middle of pristine agri- cultural land near the Mizieb woodland has spurred the con- cern of Mellieha residents. The alert was raised when res- idents noted the presence of construction machines on the 4,500sq.m plot of farmland. But it turns out the works are cov- ered by a planning permit issued to building contractor Chris Pul- licino, owner of Pullicin Holdings Limited. The permit is to backfill the site with construction debris and increase the depth of the soil. When applying, Pullicino de- clared not owning the site but had the consent of the owner who tills the land when applying. MaltaToday is also informed that the works are being strictly moni- tored by the Planning Authority which last week had intervened to stop works following report- ed breaches in permit conditions. Works resumed on Tuesday after the situation was rectified. The works are expected to be finished by next week. The newspaper understands that the removal of existing topsoil by backfilling agricultural land with inert material is meant to improve soil productivity. Contractors benefit from such arrangements with farmers by dis- posing of inert waste which they normally must dump at the landfill at a cost. Such permits are issued on con- dition that the inert waste is not contaminated by material which could damage the soil. The Planning Authority had ap- proved this application because the existing depth of the soil was deemed not to be sufficient to cul- tivate agricultural produce. While recognising that the the topping of soil will cause a change in site levels when compared to the existing neighbouring sites, the case officer had still recommended approval noting the clearance is- sued by the Agriculture Advisory Committee (AAC) and the Envi- ronment and Resources Authority. Initially the AAC had expressed concern that the application had not been presented by a farmer and requested further clarifica- tions. Ultimately the permit was issued. ERA had issued its clearance for this application if the proposal did not result in any changes to the site's agricultural use and did not involve "any change in the natural contours" or in the increase in the height of the existing rubble stone walls on site. Residents from the area have al- so expressed concern on another application presented by a farm- er who owns a neigbouring plot which also involves soil levelling and the erection of a new 15sq.m agricultural store with a basement level. The proposal also involved an in- crease in the height of the bound- ary wall surrounding the site, the deposition of soil on the same site and an underground 100sq.m res- ervoir which will be covered by soil. The Environment and Resources Authority is objecting to this appli- cation because the proposal would result in the land take-up of ODZ land and will result in the the in- troduction of build-up structures within a relatively unspoilt rural area. Moreover, ERA also pointed out that access to the site through third party fields is not adequate, but expressed no concerns about the proposed soil deposition on this site. What are construction machines doing in the middle of Mizieb? Pullicin Holdings Limited has been granted a permit to backfill the site with construction debris and increase the depth of the soil