Reduced penalties for hunting and trapping offences, lifetime bans reversible

Updated 11.46am with Justice Ministry comments

The government has agreed to hunting lobby proposals to reduce penalties for some hunting and trapping offences and make it possibile to reverse lifetime bans.

A list of offences scheduled for revision was not available at the time of publication.

Confirming the amendments, first highlighted by Malta Today on Thursday morning, Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) president Lucas Micallef said the legal changes were about “proportionality”, especially in cases of first-time offences.

He stressed the changes would not apply to those found guilty of killing protected birds or those caught hunting illegally overseas.

“Ours is one of the harshest sectors in terms of punishment,” said Micallef, pointing to the decriminalisation of cannabis and discussions around easing abortion laws as examples showing that hunting was being treated more harshly by authorities.

He said the courts were often left with “no choice” but to impose bans and that the agreed changes would give courts more leeway when deciding punishments.

Micallef said some first-time offenders had been issued with lifetime bans for trapping site coordinates that were incorrect "by a couple of metres".

“We’re not trying to send the message that we’re permitting offences. Those who commit offences must be punished," he added. 

He stressed that the hunting lobby had been in discussions with the government for some time about the proposals, and that they were “nothing new during the election”.

In May last year, Labour MP and former party president Ramona Attard declared her support for revisions to hunting and trapping punishments, advocating for “more proportionality”, especially for first-time offences.

Those revisions were approved by the Ornis Committee the following month.

The Justice Ministry told Times of Malta that work on the proposed amendments, "aimed at introducing greater proportionality in fines and in the application of licence suspensions," had been "ongoing for some time".

The ministry noted that the proposed amendments had been tabled in June last year, and that the hunting lobby and the government, including the prime minister, had spoken publicly about the proposals on more than one occasion. 

"Discussions in this regard have continued, and as statutorily required, the matter must once again be brought before the Ornis Committee for consultation."

In the lead-up to the election, both the Nationalist and Labour parties have declared their support for hunting and trapping, with PN Leader Alex Borg and Economy Minister Silvio Schembri separately saying hunting and trapping would be safeguarded under their respective governments.

Addressing a recent campaign event, Schembri highlighted the government’s opening of the hunting season.

He said it was “now time to take the next step, especially when it comes to fines and the lifetime revocation of licenses, including those whose licences have been revoked."

Schembri urged those present to re-elect Labour to power, saying a PL government was “the only government that guarantees the upholding of hunters' and trappers' rights".

The minister's words were highlighted on Facebook by the Malta Ranger Unit, which called Schembri's statement a "disgrace to environmental protection".

Both main parties have faced criticism for their support for hunting and trapping from Momentum, ADPD and NGO Birdlife Malta.