2015 Maltese spring hunting referendum

Malta 11 April 2015 Do you agree that the provisions of the 'Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail Regulations' (Subsidiary Legislation 504.94) should continue in force? 126434 124214 2509 338450 A referendum on spring hunting was held in Malta on 11 April 2015.Muscat Caroline FKNK, Coalition react as PM sets April 11 for hunting referendum http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150110/local/fknk-coalition-react-as-pm-sets-april-11-for-hunting-referendum.551308 27 March 2015 Times of Malta 10 January 2015 Voters voted narrowly in favour of retaining the spring hunt, with 50.4% voting for the existing law to remain in place. Voter turnout was 74.8%. Background In August 2013 a petition to ban spring hunting was started by the Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting, which consisted of BirdLife Malta, the Coalition for Animal Rights, the Democratic Alternative, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth, the Gaia Foundation, Greenhouse, International Animal Rescue Malta, the Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Moviment Graffitti, Nature Trust Malta, the Ramblers Association Malta and Youth for the Environment. Around 45,000 people signed the petition, triggering a referendum.Cacciottolo Mario Malta bird hunting vote: Tradition and conservation clash https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32239141 11 April 2015 BBC 11 April 2015Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting established http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-07-27/news/coalition-for-the-abolition-of-spring-hunting-established-2172452867/ The Malta Independent 30 July 2016 27 July 2013 thumb|left|Banner in favour of spring hunting in Naxxar road Birdlife Malta said that the number of turtle doves declined by 77% between 1980 and 2015. A 2007 study by the European Commission said that hunting was a medium-level threat to the turtle dove (with loss of breeding habitat in the EU being described as high-level), and described spring hunting as particularly concerning.Management Plan for Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) 2007 –2009 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/hunting/docs/turtle_dove.pdf#23 Technical Report - 007 - 2007 European Commission 28 April 2015 23 2007 The Hunter's Federation (FKNK) and St Hubert Hunters (KSU) filed a petition at the Constitutional Court in an attempt to stop the referendum being held, saying it would violate the country's European Union treaty obligations. The FKNK said the petition had 104,293 signatures, making it the largest in Maltese history.Update 3 - Hunters' petition carries 104,293 signatures - 'more than PN vote at EP elections' Times of Malta, 2 June 2014 However, the court dismissed their claim on 9 January 2015, and also ordered the FKNK and KSU to pay court costs.Historic referendum on spring hunting this year http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150109/local/spring-hunting.551166 27 March 2015 Times of Malta 9 January 2015 In 2009 the European Court of Justice had found that Malta was breaching its EU treaty obligations by allowing the spring hunt. However, successive governments passed legislation allowing it to continue. Malta is the only country in the EU to allow spring hunting for recreational purposes. Only two species, turtle doves and quails, are allowed to be shot, with quotas of 11,000 and 5,000 bird respectively. This quota is set annually, based on how many birds were reported killed the previous autumn.Malta's Report on the Outcome of 2012 Spring Hunting Season https://environment.gov.mt/en/Documents/Downloads/WBRU/Malta%20Spring%20Hunting%20Derogation%20Report%202012.pdf Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change Government of Malta 28 April 2015 5–8 18 May 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150518082707/https://environment.gov.mt/en/Documents/Downloads/WBRU/Malta%20Spring%20Hunting%20Derogation%20Report%202012.pdf dead Hunters are required to report their kills to the government. According to the Maltese government, 805 turtle doves and 151 quail were reported as killed in the 2012 spring hunting season. Result The question voted on in the referendum was "Do you agree that the provisions of the ‘Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtle Dove and Quail Regulations’ (Subsidiary Legislation 504.94) should continue in force?"Cacopardo Carmel The 11 April vote: not against hunters http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-03-22/blogs-opinions/The-11-April-vote-not-against-hunters-6736132526 30 March 2015 The Malta Independent 22 March 2015 126434 124214 2509 338450 ECM Aftermath thumb|Hunter in Qalet Marku, Naxxar, in spring 2014 When the results of the referendum were out, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced that the spring hunting season would open on 14 April. He warned hunters to be careful, and he said they were being given a 'final chance' and no abuse will be tolerated.Muscat - Spring hunting season to open on Tuesday, 'final chance' for hunters http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150412/local/muscat-spring-hunting-season-to-open-on-tuesday-final-chance-for.563642 27 April 2015 Times of Malta 12 April 2015 During the season, there were six illegalities, which is much fewer than in previous years.Kestrel shot at in Safi, dead cuckoo found at Mizieb, hunter filmed after curfew http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150425/local/kestrel-shot-at-in-safi.565476 27 April 2015 Times of Malta 25 April 2015 A particular incident involved a Dutch boy being accidentally hit by pellets fired by a hunter.Sansone Kurt Dutch boy hit by shotgun pellets http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150424/local/dutch-boy-hit-by-shotgun-pellets.565375 27 April 2015 Times of Malta 24 April 2015 On 27 April, a kestrel was illegally shot at, and the injured bird fell in the yard of St. Edward's College in Birgu. Muscat called this incident "inexcusable" and closed the season immediately. This decision was welcomed by the Coalition Against Spring Hunting, the Nationalist Party, the Democratic Alternative and BirdLife Malta. The pro-hunting lobby, consisting of FKNK and KSU, condemned the incident and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.Reactions: Hunting season closed after shot bird falls into school yard - PN agrees, Yes campaigner attacks decision http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150427/local/reactions-hunting-season-closed-after-shot-bird-falls-into-school-yard.565788 27 April 2015 Times of Malta 27 April 2015 Birdlife Malta said that it reported 9 incidents and in addition, a total of 63 illegal bird callers were detected by CABS during this hunting season. Updated 5: PM closes hunting season after shot bird lands in schoolyard, SHout happy, FKNK dismayed http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-04-27/local-news/Students-left-traumatized-after-shot-protected-bird-lands-in-school-yard-during-break-6736134527 27 April 2015 The Malta Independent 27 April 2015 Further reading Rudolf Uwe Jens Berg Warren G. 2010 Historical Dictionary of Malta https://books.google.com/books?id=nwuUOVkaMB0C&pg=PA40 Scarecrow Press 40–41 9780810873902 Mizzi Simone Abolish Spring Hunting Campaign Vigilo October 2013 44 10-12 http://dinlarthelwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Vigilo-Oct2013.pdf Din l-Art Ħelwa 1026-132X dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140211052747/http://dinlarthelwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Vigilo-Oct2013.pdf February 11, 2014 References Spring Malta Category:Referendums in Malta Category:Hunting in Malta Category:Fowling Category:Bird conservation Malta Category:Hunting referendums