Tag: Birdlife
-
Green Party and BirdLife condemn the opening of Spring Hunting Season
ADPD, the Green Party, and BirdLife have condemned the recently announced decision by the Ornis Committee to open Spring Hunting Season on April 13th. The decision will once again allow the hunting of turtle-dove and quail, despite mounting scientific evidence indicating that both species—particularly the turtle-dove—are in decline across Europe. In a strongly worded statement,…
-
BirdLife Malta condemns Government’s move to reopen Finch trapping licences
BirdLife Malta has strongly criticised the government’s decision to reopen applications for General Trapping Licences, calling it a major step backward for Malta’s environmental obligations under the European Union. Finch trapping, which was supposed to be phased out after Malta joined the EU in 2004, is now being actively regenerated, despite repeated legal rulings against…
-
Malta defies EU court rulings as government reopens controversial bird trapping season
Malta has once again reignited tensions with the European Union over bird protection laws, reopening the controversial trapping season for finches, golden plovers, and song thrushes – in direct defiance of two European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings declaring the practice illegal. Despite repeated warnings from Brussels and mounting evidence from conservation groups, the Maltese…
-
BirdLife Malta accuses FKNK of greenwashing amid ongoing Turtle-dove decline
BirdLife Malta has accused Malta’s hunting federation, FKNK, of misleading the public by presenting a minor uptick in European Turtle-dove numbers as evidence of species recovery, while omitting critical data and EU recommendations calling for a continued zero harvest. In a strongly worded statement, BirdLife Malta slammed FKNK’s recent interpretation of Central-Eastern European population data,…
-
Over €180K awarded to Wild Bird Conservation projects amid debate over hunting links
Between 2021 and 2023, Malta’s Conservation of Wild Birds Fund awarded a combined €182,091.20 to 10 projects spearheaded by voluntary organisations, aiming to safeguard and study the island’s bird populations. While the financial support reflects a growing commitment to biodiversity, the repeated inclusion of hunting organizations among beneficiaries has sparked controversy. Top recipients include BirdLife…
-
BirdLife calls for EU-wide ban on lead in hunting and fishing amid health concerns
BirdLife Europe and Central Asia has launched a new campaign demanding the European Union to completely ban lead in hunting, sport shooting, and fishing. According to the organisation, lead exposure already poses a high risk to human health and is banned in Europe in petrol, paint, and pipes. Yet, despite all this documented risks, lead…
-
Illegal hunting in Malta’s protected bird sanctuaries sparks urgent need for action
Two cases of illegal hunting were reported in Malta‘s protected bird sanctuaries, namely Buskett and Comino, this month, raising an alarm for lax enforcement of conservation laws. BirdLife Malta had reported both incidents to authorities, stressing that more monitoring and protection were needed in these areas. On 22nd November, hunters were caught in the Buskett sanctuary following woodcocks. Shotguns were confiscated by the Environmental Protection Unit and charges will be brought against the offenders. On 27th November, a hunter accompanied by dogs was filmed on Comino, yet another protected zone. The…
