Karmenu Vella urges government to impose moratorium on turtle doves

European Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella has urged the Maltese government to consider a moratorium on spring hunting for the turtle dove, a move that cannot be imposed by Brussels. He was reacting to a call by the International Union for Conservation of Nature that urged the European Commission to "apply an urgent moratorium" on spring hunting for the species. The IUCN said turtle doves had undergone a rapid decline in numbers over recent years and was up-listed to "vulnerable" on its Red List of Threatened Species. Talking to Times of Malta after addressing the Mediterranean Leadership Summit yesterday, Mr Vella said that the Birds Directive did not allow for a moratorium to be imposed by the Commission on any member state. "However, I would urge the Maltese government to consider it," he added. The spring hunting season for turtle doves and quail opened on April 17 and closes today. However, this year, the national quota for the turtle dove was reduced to 5,000 birds from the maximum 11,000 allowed by the regulations that make spring hunting possible. The quota for quail remained un-changed at 5,000 birds. Spring hunting is not allowed by the Birds Directive, but...

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