Birdlife to pursue second referendum due to unbalanced decisions in hunters' favour

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BirdLife is considering pursuing a second referendum to ban spring hunting after the Ornis Committee recommended the spring hunting take place during the peak migratory season of the now protected turtle dove, despite scientific evidence recommending the contrary.

 

The NGO will be also approaching the European Commission to intervene

 

Scientific evidence and the advice from the Environment Resources Authority, Birdlife CEO Mark Sultana explained, categorically suggested that the spring hunting season take place between 15 March April, specifically to avoid the turtle dove, which is now protected in spring, during their peak migration period.

 

The European Union had issued a moratorium on the hunting of the species during spring after recording a noticeable drop in turtle dove figures. In fact, last year's spring hunting season was moved was moved to the 25 March - 14 April, in order to avoid overlapping with the migration period, while still being able to hunt Quail, which is allowed under law.

 

"This effectively means that this year's spring hunting season is one which has been designed to target the protected Turtle Dove," a BirdLife statement read.

 

Sultana said that the government is completely disregarding environmentalists and respective NGOs while catering to the whims of the hunting lobby. 

 

The NGO will be also approaching the European Commission to intervene

 

Saviour Balzan, who is the Secretary General of the NGO, went a step further saying that this was a sign of weakness from the government, who he explained were effectively ignoring the needs of half the population who voted against spring hunting,  despite Prime Minister Joseph Muscat saying after the first referendum that he would make environmental protection a priority. 

 

"We need to change our strategy. We have tried to use dialogue, but we know have ERA advice and scientific evidence from the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU) being completely ignored. This is purely a political decision, and it's not even as though we are close to an election and they need to win votes from the lobby," Balzan said.

 

BirdLife President Darrell Grima, who revealed that that the NGO will be pursuing another referendum, explained that they have "been pushed into a corner, as there is no balance between both sides of the debate."

 

"We are obliged to pursue a referendum on what has been happening. We believe we will win, 100%, with the support we have," he said.

 

"No one has a leader to speak about the destruction of the environment, so we must occupy that space," Balzan added. 

 

The first referendum on spring hunting was held in Malta on 11 April 2015, with 50.4% of voters (turnout was 74.8%) voting for the existing law to remain in place.

from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2EZAkkv
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