As EU prepares to take action, hunters call for stop on turtle dove hunting

3.05pm Updated with BirdLife Malta comments

In view of the "perceived decline" of turtle dove and the subsequent classification of the species as "vulnerable”, two hunting organisations today urged the government to declare a voluntary moratorium on the species.

And at a press conference this morning, the hunters' federation (FKNK) also said it was informed the European Commission would be taking the issue of turtle dove hunting once again to the European Court of Justice. 

Kaccaturi San Ubertu said the moratorium should remain in force until sustainability of limited spring hunting of this species is scientifically proven. This decision follows a call for restrictions on the spring hunting of turtle dove by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as well as by Commissioner Karmenu Vella.

The FKNK said it was choosing the lesser of two evils to ensure the Maltese government does not lose the case of spring hunting at EU level. 

KSU called upon hunting organisations in other EU countries that hunt turtle dove to follow suit and appeal to their governments for similar measures to restrict hunting of this species to levels that can be scientifically proven to...