The Environment NGOs Din L-Art Helwa, Flimkien g©¤al Ambjent A©¤jar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Gaia Foundation, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Nature Trust (Malta) and Ramblers Association Malta express their deep concern on the issues related to the opening of Spring Hunting in the Maltese Islands by the local authorities and the behaviour of some hunters in our countryside.

The NGOs have noted that well before the season was opened, some irresponsible hunters had already been noted shooting at birds. At the same time the NGOs also note that while condemning some incidents the Hunters Federation continues to defend the irresponsible few with excuses.

The NGOs would like to show their full support to the Volunteers of BirdLife Malta who were violently assaulted after witnessing illegal hunting. Footage of this incident was also shown in the local media showing this unacceptable behaviour.

The NGOs call upon the national authorities to ensure that Law enforcement in our countryside is beefed up. The Administrative Law Enforcement Unit within the Police force has long been understaffed. The NGOs have been calling year after year for this unit to be strengthened to combat the ever-growing illegalities in our country side. This lack of action by the national authorities is now being interpreted as the lack of environmental commitment by the Government.

Furthermore the NGOs demand that the Enforcement Unit within MEPA be also strengthened. MEPA as the responsible authority for the Birds Directive in Malta should pull up its socks and together with the Police take immediate action.

It is shocking to learn that MEPA actually recommended a longer spring season and voted within the ORNIS group for such a longer hunting spring season in Malta. One questions MEPA’s priorities on Environmental issues as the responsible authority. Our Islands are becoming an international and an EU embarrassment on nature protection.

The NGOs call on the Government and the Opposition to unite on this issue and stop trying to make political mileage on the hunting issue in Malta. This calls into question the environmental credibility of the two major parties.

The call is also being extended to the Maltese MEPs who further embarrass our Islands as some of them try to convince the EU that Malta is a special case in Europe.

Finally the NGOs appeal to the Maltese public to show its concern on this issue. If Malta ends up being fined by the EU, it will not be paid by hunters or politicians but by all Maltese and Gozitan citizens through their tax contribution. Our country needs to act as a responsible EU country and not bring shame on us all in the international media.