Help us halt illegal hunting

Help us halt illegal hunting

Malta

Bee-eater with wound caused by shooting, Malta

Malta has nearly 12,000 hunters and over 4,500 trappers within a population of 400,000. Its density of hunters is at least six times higher than any other EU country.

Many different protected species are shot illegally each year, from birds of prey to swallows. Due to the intense persecution, only 21 species still breed regularly in Malta. 

Illegal hunting activities (as per Maltese law) of particular concern include: 

  • Hunters shoot protected species to display in collections of stuffed birds. This includes birds of prey, such as the globally threatened lesser kestrel, osprey and purple heron. In 2003, the government granted an amnesty for illegally-shot stuffed birds. Nearly 270,000 birds were registered even though only 2,589 hunters submitted their lists
  • Small protected species, such as swallows and swifts, are shot for target practice
  • Repeater shotguns firing more than three cartridges are widely used
  • Hunting in bird sanctuaries, such as Girgenti and Buskett, where hunting is banned.        

The law

In March 2006, following a formal complaint by BirdLife Malta and BirdLife International, and at the threat of legal action by the European Commission, Malta introduced a new law that is closer to the EU Birds Directive. A newly constituted Ornis Committee, with representatives from BirdLife Malta and the Federation of Hunters, Trappers and Conservationists, will advise the government on issues relating to hunting and recommend hunting season dates.

In 2007 the following were banned:

  • Spring hunting from sea craft
  • Spring trapping of seven species of finches (goldfinch, greenfinch, serin, siskin, linnet, hawfinch and chaffinch)    

When it joined the EU in 2004, Malta was the only country to win a transition period in transposing and implementing the Birds Directive – to allow trapping of seven finch species as above until 2008. During this time, it has to meet a number of interim targets, such as establishing a captive finch breeding programme and registering trapping sites. 

When Malta joined the Bern Convention in 1993, it entered a reservation allowing it to continue spring hunting of turtle doves and quails and the trapping of the seven finch species.   

Malta insists on retaining spring hunting of turtle dove and quail by derogation from the Birds Directive. However, following Malta’s submission of a derogation report for 2004, BirdLife Malta with the help of RSPB and BirdLife International, submitted to the European Commission a report with scientific arguments against spring hunting in Malta. 

In June 2006, the European Commission started legal infringement procedures that can lead to a case in the European Court of Justice against Malta for allowing spring hunting. In addition to killing tens of thousands of turtle doves and quails in spring, illegal hunters use this open season as a loophole to kill many other, often threatened, species.

Police law enforcement deteriorated in 2005 with only 289 hunters charged in court, in comparison to the 475 in 2004. The Police Administrative Law Enforcement (ALE) Section are still heavily understaffed in relation to the number of licensed hunters.

Conservation action

BirdLife Malta monitors hunting and trapping and campaigns for compliance of Maltese law with the Birds Directive, especially an end to spring hunting.

It urges political commitment to effective law enforcement and collaborates with the police on cases of illegal hunting. In January 2002, BirdLife Malta provided photographic evidence to the police that led to the charging in court of hunters who illegally shot mute swans from a speedboat in a crowded bay. 

BirdLife Malta runs an educational campaign in schools and carries out public awareness campaigns. A public opinion poll in April 2006 showed two-thirds of Maltese people wanted a total ban on all hunting and trapping.   

BirdLife Malta organises an international raptor observation and protection camp every September. The presence of foreign observers and police in the Buskett area has helped reduce illegal hunting there.

In 2001, the RSPB, with the UK police, held a three-day training course for Maltese police.

In 2005, the RSPB began a comprehensive organisation development support programme for BirdLife Malta in order to strengthen it to meet future challenges in fighting illegal bird killing and trapping and other conservation work.  

The major challenge is now to enforce the law and to end the spring hunting. In addition, we will keep the pressure on the Government of Malta to ensure the elimination of finch trapping by the end of 2008, in line with the EU transition period agreement.

What you can do

You can write to the Maltese Prime Minister, the Maltese Minister for Home Affairs, press and the Malta Tourist Office. 

BirdLife Malta welcomes overseas members: please contact 57/28 Marina Court, Abate Rigord Street, Ta' Xbiex MSD12, Malta, or visit: www.birdlifemalta.org

This project is supported by Restore UK.

Read more

  • Conservationists mobilise to halt mass slaughter of birds in Malta (Independent)
  • Alistair Gammell: There will be an orgy of killing (Independent)

Last modified: 29 June 2006