FKNK demands more trapping

The hunters' federation is demanding not only the continuation of trapping, but also an increase in licences and the number of species that can be trapped - as well as a longer season, according to Birdlife.

The demand comes in spite of Malta's Accession Treaty agreement which states that trapping had to be phased out by last December.

The FKNK made these demands to the Ornis Committee, which regulates the practice of hunting and trapping.

Birdlife campaigns co-ordinator Geoffrey Saliba said: "The European Commission gave Malta more than enough time to prepare for the full implementation of the Birds Directive by allowing trapping to be gradually phased out over a five-year period and to disseminate this information to the trappers and the public by the end of 2008."

Birdlife stressed the need for more information to be given to the trappers and the public on the commitments that Malta made.

"The government has done almost nothing in this regard and this is causing a lot of confusion and false expectations. It is for this reason that Birdlife Malta, with support from Mepa, applied to the Commission for an EU Life+ information project through the government," Mr Saliba said.

The project's aim is to raise awareness on bird migration, the impact of trapping and the legal status of trapping in the EU.

Following a statement issued by the FKNK criticising Mepa's support for the Life+ project on February 3, Mepa issued a statement the same day denying its financial commitment to the project, saying Birdlife had failed to meet its request to involve hunters and trappers.

Birdlife reacted by revealing the official documents signed by Mepa committing to the project, and also countered the authority's claims by saying the actions listed in the project did include dialogue with trappers that were scheduled to start after April.

When contacted, FKNK PRO Joe Perici Calascione denied that trapping was meant to be phased out last December, saying this was a matter of interpretation.

"We maintain that certain species can still be trapped... it just doesn't make sense that some species can be shot but can't be trapped."

Mr Perici Calascione also criticised the government for failing to show goodwill with the trapping community.