Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/286290
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 MARCH 2014 6 News PRIME Minister Joseph Mus- cat plans to reintroduce finch trapping in a move taht will definitely lead to infringement procedures from the European Commission and a backlash from conservation groups. According to renewed demands made by hunters' lobby FKNK, the federation wants the gov- ernment to effect a derogation from the EU ban on trapping, so that they can take the astound- ing number of 300,000 Linnet, 900,000 Chaffinch, 500,000 Greenfinch, 400,000 Goldfinch, 300,000 Siskin, 200,000 Serin, and 60,000 Hawfinch over a period of two months trapping season between 7 October until 7 December – permitting a total catch of 2.6 million finches. The negotiated treaty with the European Union in 2002 allowed a very limited trapping season for finches from 2004 and 2008. But trapping came to an end in 2008 after Malta's failure to implement measures to set up a breeding programme of finches, one of the conditions for this derogation from the EU ban. The hunters' federation has been calling for a derogation for trapping and has suggested that the government issues licences to trap thousands of finches by use of clap-nets. Consultants to parliamen- tary secretary Roderick Galdes, such as hunter and former La- bour candidate Bertu Pace, have now convinced government that a trapping derogation would be possible. Although finch trapping is ille- gal in Malta, hundreds of trappers still carry out their illegal activity, occupying large tracts of private and public land. On the eve of EU accession in 2004, the Nationalist administra- tion had issued licences to hun- dreds of trappers who had never had a licence previously. 400 li- cences alone were furtively issued to Gozitan trappers after pressure from Gozitan politicians in 2002. The European Commission had then considered trapping as a no-go area and gave Malta a four-year phase out plan starting in 2004. The EU had allowed a transitional period until 31 De- cember 2008 for the capture of six finches by the use of clap-nets for the purpose of keeping them in captivity. It had also demand- ed a captive breeding system but the whole project failed and was eventually dumped. Muscat, who openly supports hunters and trappers, entered into a secret pre-electoral with the lobby and now appears will- ing to defy EU laws. There are indications that he will let hunters and trappers know of his intentions before the European parliamentary elections in May, through the government-controlled Ornis committee, chaired by anthro- pologist Mark Anthony Falzon. The announcement is expected to galvanise potential support for Muscat, who is worried that he will not win the next European parliamentary elections with a clear majority. In a report they presented to the government in 2013, the FKNK suggested that taking away trapping would "murder" trapping enthusiasts. "The trapper has nothing to look forward to in life… he would have nothing to dream about, pray for, hope for, dress up for… he may fail to perform in work and even in sex, his family and friends relationships will suffer. In fact he might have nothing else to live for. He will suffer mental depression verging on suicidal." Muscat considers lifting trapping ban Coalition targets spring hunting with over 44,000 signatures for abolition MIRIAM DALLI THE Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting yesterday said it was not for a total abolition of hunting throughout the year but only against spring hunting, the season banned by the EU's Birds Directive. On Friday, the coalition submitted its petition to call for an abrogative referendum, signed by over 44,000 people. The coalition confirmed that 40,351 of these signatures are already on the electoral register. The signatures represent over 10% of the registered voters as re- quired by the law for an abrogative referendum to be held. "This petition is about defending birds and giving citizens the right to access the countryside. Every gen- eral election we have the hunting lobby telling political parties that if they don't get their privileges, they won't be getting their vote," coali- tion spokesman Christian Debono said. Debono said the majority of Mal- tese were against spring hunting, and that this was corroborated by polls: "The Maltese want to enjoy spring in the countryside and seeing birds migrating over our islands." He added that signatories to the petition believe that the secret deals the hunting lobby had made with successive governments to gain more privileges was not how a democracy should work. The Electoral Commission will now have to verify the petition sig- natures and begin the process that will lead to a referendum. The documentation 6will then be presented to the Constitutional Court and a public hearing held to listen to both objections to the ref- erendum and those in favour. Reacting to parliamentary sec- retary Roderick Galdes's plea for unity between hunters and envi- ronmentalists, after the junior min- ister issued a joint communiqué for both sides to pledge cooperation, BirdLife executive director Steve Micklewright said BLM was ready to work where there was common ground – minly illegal hunting. "There is obviously no common ground on spring hunting as we op- pose it," he said. He also said that the coalition was not against a total ban of hunting, something which effectively could not be done: "We don't want to abolish hunting, just spring hunt- ing, which is damaging." Greens vow to 'consign spring hunting to history books' ALTERNATTIVA Demokra- tika chairperson Arnold Cassola yesterday pledged his party's full support to the Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting, un- derlining the party's commitment towards environmental protec- tion and safeguarding everybody's right to enjoy public spaces. Commenting on the next steps following the presentation of 45,000 signatures demanding an abrogative referendum that "will consign spring hunting to the history books," Cassola said that "AD will continue to monitor the abrogative referendum process closely and give its full support to the coalition." "Nature protection and enjoy- ment of the countryside and other public spaces is at the top of AD's agenda and we will continue to work in this direction, both at na- tional level and at EU level, par- ticularly if elected following next May's election," Cassola said. AD deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said that AD had co- operated with 12 environmental NGOs in what is to date the larg- est environmental coalition in Malta. "The results obtained so far are ample proof that the pro- environmental forces on the is- land need to cooperate on more issues, as they are the only ones who really care. AD is the only political party which throughout the years has taken a clear stand against spring hunting. The other parties, PN and PL have sought agreements with hunters' lobby groups to time and again permit them to decimate the bird popu- lation when this is most in need of protection." He added that through the ab- rogative referendum the Green Party and its partners in the co- alition will ensure that the 2014 spring hunting season will be the last one. AD's spokesperson on animal welfare Simon Galea described the presentation of the 45,000 signatures as "a special day for civil society which stood up to be counted." "Sadly enough both PL and PN have throughout the years given their blessing to this kill- ing of birds on their way to their breeding grounds. AD, on the other hand, has consistently striven against this unsustain- able practice which not only poses a negative impact on bird conservation but also denies us all the right to enjoy nature dur- ing spring."