EU bans traditional Maltese spring hunt of turtle dove and quail

Sep 10, 2009, 18:03 GMT

Valletta, Malta - Malta's vocal hunting lobby was incensed Thursday after the European Court of Justice decided Malta had breached hunting regulations and would have to discontinue a decades- old traditional bird hunt.

For several years, Maltese hunters targeted turtle doves and quails in what was known as the spring hunt, even if the EU's Birds Directive clearly bans hunting during spring.

The directive only makes exceptions if a country can prove there is no other season to hunt apart from spring.

Proceedings against the practice were started when Malta permitted the hunt from 2004 to 2007, after joining the EU.

In its ruling, the court said the number of birds captured, according to submissions made by the government, were 'disproportionate' and that the hunt would not be allowed under EU law.

No appeal may be made.

The Maltese government, in a statement, said it would respect the decision. The Maltese Federation for Hunters had accused the government and the European Commission of going back on promises made before a referendum which permitted the island state to join the EU bloc in 2004.

In an attempt to cool tempers, hunters' federation secretary Lino Farrugia said the European Court could not take away Malta's right to apply for an exemption in the future.