Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/811845
5 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 16 APRIL 2017 News 2,400 migrants plucked from Med in two days but 'many lives still at stake' FKNK questions CABS presence in police operation PAUL COCKS MORE than 2,400 migrants trying to reach Europe were plucked from the Mediterranean between Friday and Saturday in a series of dramatic rescues and one person was found dead, of- ficials and witnesses said. An Italian coast guard spokes- man said 19 rescue operations by the coast guard or ships op- erated by non-governmental organisations had saved a total of 2,074 migrants on 16 rubber dinghies and three small wooden boats on Friday alone. The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said in a tweet that one teenager was found dead in a rubber boat whose passengers were rescued by its ship Aquarius. "The sea continues to be a graveyard," MSF said in a Tweet. The coast guard spokesman confirmed that one person had died but gave no details. MSF said two of their ships, Aquarius and Prudence, had res- cued about 1,000 people in nine boats. Desperate refugees struggled to stay afloat after they slid off their rubber boat during a rescue operation by the Phoenix, a ship of the rescue group Migrant Off- shore Aid Station (MOAS). Video footage showed rescuers jumping into the water off the coast of Libya to help them. On Saturday afternoon, MOAS said in a tweet that more than 400 people were being taken care of onboard the Phoenix af- ter morning rescues. Those rescued by the MOAS and MSF ships were trans- ferred to Italian coast guard ships, which had rescued other migrants, to be taken to Italian ports. 'Many lives still at stake' Yesterday evening, MOAS co-founder Chris Catrambone tweeted that over 1,000 people were out at sea on seven rub- ber and two wooden boats in the vicinity of the Phoenix, despite requesting "urgent assistance" early in the morning. In another tweet, Catrambone said "many lives are still at stake as nighttime approaches." According to the Internation- al Organisation for Migration, nearly 32,000 migrants have ar- rived in Europe by sea so far this year. More than 650 have died or are missing. PAUL COCKS The Federation for Hunting and Conservation - Malta (FKNK) has questioned the presence of Com- mittee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) activists in a police opera- tion in which a number of turtle doves were released form a private aviary in Gharb in Gozo. FKNK said in a statement yes- terday that it strongly condemned any illegality that could be under- taken, especially if harmful to the traditions of hunting and trapping and to Maltese and Gozitan hunt- ers and trappers. It insisted however that it had serious reservations about re- ports on social media, which clearly showed a CABS group from Germany present as Malta police officers and personnel from the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU) section released the tur- tle doves. "Why were the birds released, when it is perfectly legal that such birds are kept in personal posses- sion? What was illegal here?" it asked. FKNK also asked whether the CABS activists had any authority to take part in the release and if a CBS activist who was filmed in possession of a turtle dove would be fined. The WBRU had sent a letter to all registered hunters and warned them that if they were caught in possession of a turtle dove, they could be fined up to €5,000. "Will the WBRU now see that this CABS activist gets to pay this fine?" FKNK asked. "Is there evidence that someone illegally shot that turtle dove, as is being claimed by CABS?" The federation said that CABS activists have been frequently found to have acted without any authority and therefore illegally – spying through the use of drones and other equipment, trespassing, taking possession of private prop- erty, filming and photographing people without their consent, and being in the illegal possession of protected birds. Mizieb hunting reserve vadalised "Meanwhile, in the FKNK Hunt- ing Reserve at Miżieb, unknown persons have caused willful and extensive damage to several hides located on site," it said. "Apparently, this time these cowardly vandals have even left their 'signature', in the form of stickers which they left on site." FKNK called on the police and the WBRU to confirm if they were investigating CABS and the van- dalism at Mizieb. "Perhaps, the desired balance in law enforcement will be achieved; which balance, at present, seems to be noticeably lacking," it said. The federation said that the Maltese people, including hunters and trappers, deserved to know that justice was being served on an equal basis, with anyone, and regardless of the nationality of the persons involved. The FKNK thanked its hunter members, for their exemplary behaviour throughout this spring hunting season which closed on Friday, and which – it noted – was virtually non-existent since it was opened at a bad time for the pas- sage of quails, against the propos- al that the FKNK had put to the Malta Ornis Committee for the season to open 10 and 30 April. It also warned members not to give in to provocations, as "what has been undertaken in these cou- ple of days by CABS and others, who can only be looked upon as cowards and losers." TOP OF THE WORLD Feel on DON'T JUST VISIT, LIVE IT. 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"It was not related to the petroleum prospects of the area. The fact Rockhopper is interested in exploration offshore Malta is a good sign which should be en- couraged," a spokesperson for transport minister Joe Mizzi had said at the time. Area 3 covers some 6,000 square kilometres, now in the hands of Melita Exploration, a wholly- owned subsidiary of Rockhopper. The operator for the area is Cairn Energy, which had to take a deci- sion one way or the other on the concession before the end of 2018. Malta study Caption: A young boy is pulled to safety on board the Phoenix (Photo by Darrin Zammit Lupi/MOAS)