Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/299616
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 APRIL 2014 News 2 PAGE 1 "To protect the devices from being stolen or confiscated by the police the hunters have locked them in metal boxes or used oil barrels which have been embed- ded or filled with concrete or large boulders," CABS explained. "Normally the callers start to sing around midnight and stop an hour or two before sunrise." The reason why they are only ac- tive in the night is simple: Quails only migrate at night. "If a hunter uses a bird caller he can be sure that the Quails in the surroundings are attracted to his hunting ground whereas his hunting neighbour ei- ther comes away empty-handed or opts to use an artificial lure him- self. It is a domino effect." CABS also reported that on Sat- urday morning, one of its teams managed to film two hunters who shot three Quails each close to Buskett Gardens thus shooting more than the bag limit of two birds per hunter and day. Both men also failed to report their catch by SMS as required and continued hunting after they shot three birds each. They were stopped by the ALE who took their particulars and in- stituted proceedings against the two men. Government reaction In a reaction, the government is- sued its third update on enforce- ment since the start of the spring hunting season. "Several thousand migrating pro- tected birds were observed over the Maltese islands, including several species of ducks, Marsh Harriers, Montagu's Harriers, Kestrels, Black Kites, Honey Buzzards, Eleonora's Falcons, Golden Orioles, Cuckoos, Nightjars, Swifts, Swallows, Fly- catchers and even a very rare Long- legged Buzzard," the animal rights ministry said. The ministry said that around 70 law enforcement officers from the police and the Armed Forces of Malta had been deployed between 5am and 2pm, while 40 enforcement officers continued regular patrols until 9.30pm. Further patrols were also carried out at specific locations at night- time. Officials from the Wild Birds Regulation Unit continued to pro- vide technical assistance with the enforcement operation on a 24-hour basis, and have also carried out sep- arate field inspections and patrols around specific locations. "Surveillance was supported by the unmanned aerial vehicle which flew over a dozen sorties over spe- cific locations, over protected areas during times when hunting was not permitted," the ministry said. "Until Sunday 20 April, officers carried out several hundred routine field patrols and inspections, as well as a total of 1,003 spot-checks on individual hunters. In the course of these inspections and spot-checks, a total of 24 suspected offenders were apprehended. A total of 30 suspected offences were disclosed until Sunday 20 April, of which 24 offences were of minor nature." All cases are being prosecuted. Police, army conduct over 1,000 spot-checks on hunters Nature of the offence Number of cases Hunting within prohibited distances 4 Possession of a shotgun with a magazine capable of holding more than 2 rounds of ammunition 4 Possession of overloaded shotgun 1 Failure to declare shooting of a game bird 1 Failure to be in possession of the special license and / or carnet de chasse whilst hunting 4 Failure to declare going out hunting on the carnet de chasse booklet. 5 Leaving a firearm unattended 2 Possession of heavy gauge shot 2 Possession of pre-recorded bird calls 1 Total 24 Six violations are considered to be more serious as these involved suspected targeting of protected birds, or hunting within a bird sanctuary, as follows: Nature of the offence Number of cases Illegal trapping of protected birds 3 Illegal shooting of a protected bird (swallow) 1 Hunting in a bird sanctuary 1 Possession of a shotgun during unpermitted hours (case of suspected illegal hunting) 1 Total 6 All cases are being prosecuted. Police officer faces fine for insulting BirdLife Foul-mouthed police officer facing seven days' wages fine THE police officer who allegedly described BirdLife members as "faggots" is facing a maximum penalty of seven days' wages if found guilty. Police sources have told Malta- Today that the officer "who bab- bled" faces a maximum penalty of a week's wages, and may also be reassigned to another depart- ment within the force. On Monday, a BirdLife Malta member of staff was arrested and cautioned by the police af- ter recording the events follow- ing an incident where a recently dead Little Bittern, a protected species, was seen in the mouth of a hunters' dog. BirdLife also has a sound re- cording of the arresting officer telling a Maltese BirdLife volun- teer at the scene of the incident that, "You are all faggots, the lot of you" ("pufti kollha" in Mal- tese). In a statement issued yesterday, the NGO said that instead of fo- cusing on identifying and arrest- ing the suspected perpetrator, Administrative Law Enforce- ment (ALE) officers were "more concerned that the incident was being recorded". The BirdLife volunteer was held for questioning at the Police headquarters, BirdLife said, add- ing that this was the third time in a matter of a few days that its members were held for question- ing by the police. Police sources have confirmed that apart from the foul-mouthed police officer, the BirdLife volun- teer is also under investigation. "BirdLife members are bound by law to provide all information and evidence in their posses- sion," the sources said, adding that the NGO does not enjoy any "privileges." The same sources added that BirdLife Malta members are often found in possession of in- jured protected birds. "It is illegal to be in possession of a protected bird, and when- ever we ask for veterinarian cer- tificates these are never submit- ted." YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt Over 2,400 petition MEPA against Wied Garnaw development MIRIAM DALLI 2,400 signatures against a proposed private old people's home in Santa Lu- cija's Wied Garnaw valley have been collected in a record two weeks' time. The signatures were collected by the Save Wied Garnaw Action Group and, together with the Sta Lucija Residents Action Committee, the petition was formally submitted to MEPA. The agricultural zone has been iden- tified for the development of a four- storey, private residence for the elderly – an outside development zone (ODZ) application considered to be a major test case on the environmental creden- tials of the new administration. The Wied Garnaw area is between Sta Lucija and Luqa. While the Sta Lucija local council has yet to discuss the issue, the Luqa local council has pronounced itself against the develop- ment. The petition urges MEPA to con- clude the proposal's screening period by informing the applicant that the proposed development is not permis- sible because it runs counter to various development planning policies. "The site in question is ODZ and the proposed development is not essential to agricultural, scenic and ecological needs. The proposed development is also not permissible since the South Malta Local Plan classifies the site in question as an area of agricultural importance, a rural conservation area, a valley protection zone, an aquifer protection zone and part of a strategic open space gap," the action group said. "The proposed development would also pose a severe threat to all the val- ley, as such a permit would be used as a precedent to press for other urban de- velopment in neighbouring fields." In 2006, an application (PA/08097/05) for the construction of 12 maisonettes and underlying garages on the same site was refused by MEPA. The site is a green space between two towns in Malta's densely-populated south. The action taken by MEPA will now determine whether this area will be lost to development or if it will re- main open space as a legacy for future generations. This case is also testing how effective MEPA, particularly the Environment Protection Directorate, is in upholding development restrictions in ODZ and other protected areas. "Malta's open green spaces are at crisis point. The remaining few are being destroyed for activities which could easily be under- taken inside the development scheme. The Wied Garnaw petition represents a national momentum wherein the gen- eral public is calling on MEPA to up- hold ODZ policies and to ensure effec- tive protection of the scarce remaining countryside," the action group said. The action group also called on all Members of Parliament to speak out on the need for ODZ to remain ODZ. "Maltese politicians can contribute greatly by reaching a cross-party con- sensus on the need for MEPA to refuse ODZ developments applications not permitted by ODZ policies." The action group also called on all Members of Parliament to speak out on the need for ODZ to remain ODZ