Ornis Committee Approves Relaxed Fines for Protected Bird Offences
In brief
- Malta's Ornis Committee approved a package of proposed changes to reduce penalties for offences involving protected birds.
- Committee members voted in favour of the revised fines following a five-slide presentation by a lawyer, without reviewing the full draft legislation.
- BirdLife Malta strongly condemned the decision, arguing that lowering penalties undermines environmental protection and law enforcement.
The Ornis Committee, the consultative body advising the government on hunting and bird conservation, has approved proposals to reduce penalties for offences involving protected birds.
The committee passed the measures after members were shown a five-slide presentation prepared by a lawyer outlining proposed adjustments to current fines.
The vote took place without committee members having access to the full draft legal texts, prompting questions over the procedural review of the changes.
BirdLife Malta strongly criticised the outcome, warning that lowering fines for harming protected species weakens existing wildlife safeguards.
The conservation group argued that easing statutory sanctions sends an encouraging message to repeat offenders and rolls back years of progress in species protection.
The recommendations will now proceed to the government, which retains ultimate responsibility for drafting and passing any formal amendments to current hunting regulations.
The Spin Room
Medium media divide. Coverage agreed on the vote to lower penalties, but Times of Malta highlighted the procedural absence of draft legislation while Lovin Malta led with BirdLife Malta's objections.
- Times of Malta: Focused on the committee approving the changes following a brief presentation by a lawyer and without examining the formal legal text.
- Lovin Malta: Led with BirdLife Malta's reaction and its warnings that reduced fines will weaken protection for vulnerable birds.