Hunting for both quails and turtle-doves to be allowed in April

The ORNIS Committee on Wednesday voted in favour of lifting the moratorium on the spring hunting of turtle-doves as from this year’s spring hunting season, BirdLife said on Facebook. Five members voted in favour of the removal of the moratorium, BirdLife Malta voted against and there was one abstention. The moratorium was enforced by the government in 2017 after the European Commission threatened legal action if the practice was allowed to continue. Since then hunters have only been allowed to hunt quail in spring. Addressing a news conference in the morning, BirdLife warned that the moratorium may be lifted. BirdLife said that during the meeting, which started at 4pm, ORNIS also decided that this year’s spring hunting season for the turtle-dove should run between April 17 and 30 with a national bag limit of 1,500 birds. This vote was also approved with five ORNIS committee members voting in favour, BirdLife Malta voting against, and one abstention. On the spring hunting of the common quail, the committee decided the spring hunting season should run between April 10 and 30 with a national bag limit of 2,400 birds. In this case there were six votes in favour and one, BirdLife...