The illegal hunting of migrating birds in many of the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea is an emotive issue. Many people, both residents and visitors, are appalled by the scale of illegal hunting practices. The hunters involved are passionate about what they see as traditional sport. This leaflet summarizes the hunting situation, the law and the conservation action being taken in the following countries:

- Cyprus - France

- Greece - Italy

- Malta - Portugal

- Spain - Turkey

The illegal hunting involves shooting, mostly for recreation, and trapping that uses nets, lures and liming to provide caged birds or delicacies for eating. To address the issue of illegal hunting, the RSPB believes in:

- enforcement of existing laws, at both EC and national / regional levels

- education in the countries concerned

- mobilizing public support

- above all, co-operative action within the BirdLife

International partnership, and helping our BirdLife Partners to take the necessary action in

their countries.

About one-third of all declining species may be affected by hunting and persecution generally (Tucker et all 1991). Studies in North America (Seis 1988) have shown that hunting is very likely to further reduce numbers of rare and declining species.

A major study (Woldek 1979) has estimated that hundreds of millions of migratory birds are killed each year in the Mediterranean - possibly more than 15% of the total number wintering in or migrating through the region. A much higher percentage of the preferred quarry species - such as raptors and golden orioles - are shot.

As a partner in BirdLife International, we support and encourage our Partner organizations in the countries where illegal hunting occurs. It is in the spirit of BirdLife International that the Partner in the country concerned should take the front-line action. It would be politically insensitive and counter-productive for the RSPB or any other BirdLife Partner to take such direct action itself in another country. We have helped to build our Partners in Spain, Malta, Italy, Greece and Turkey.

The RSPB employs officers to work with our BirdLife International Partners and actively engage with the Commission of the EU and Council of Europe in monitoring the implementation of the EU Wild Birds Directive and Bern Convention, respectively. We will lobby for improvements and resist any proposals that would weaken protection measures.

You can express your concerns in writing to the government, the tourist department and / or the press in any given country. This is always worthwhile. None of these countries can afford to ignore public opinion, particularly when tourism is of such economic importance. This leaflet gives you the details you need about hunting and the law in the eight countries listed.

Our BirdLife Partners in the countries concerned would welcome your direct support.

When we talk about illegal hunting, it is in terms of the law within a given country or of the European legislation which that country is obliged to comply with.

The eight governments are subject to the law of either the EU Wild Birds Directive or the Bern Convention, or both (see Appendix). They are thereby obliged to protect most wild bird species in national or regional legislation. In the UK, for example, Schedule II of the UK's Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 recognizes 19 legitimate quarry species. All of which - bar the capercaillie - are waterfowl, but which may not be killed or taken during close seasons (generally 1 February to 31 August).

The RSPB was instrumental in getting this legislation adopted by the then EEC. The legislation requires member states to enact their own laws and regulations to protect wild birds, their nests, eggs and habitats. The legislation should regulate the hunting, capture, killing and sale of many species. There are 72 species (in Annex II) which member states may permit to be hunted outside the breeding season and - in the case of migratory species - outside the period in spring when the species return to their breeding grounds.

This general EU permission to hunt Annex II species is qualified by restrictions on the methods that may be legally employed. Article 8 of the Directive proscribes all methods used for the large-scale or non-selective capture or killing of birds species, particularly with nets, snares, traps, bird lime, live decoys and poisoned bait. The use of automatic weapons is also forbidden. UK law incorporates this in full.

Member states may, however, withdraw from any of the bird protection measures of the Directive for strictly defined reasons. Any such withdrawals are monitored by the European Commission.

The Bern Convention, as it is known, was created by the Council of Europe. The eight countries have signed up to the Convention, thereby agreeing to take action to conserve natural habitats, particularly those that are important for migratory species. The Convention recognizes some species as legitimate hunting quarry, but it insists on the enforcement of proper close seasons and - like the EU Birds Directive - prohibits indiscriminate methods of capturing and killing birds, in particular the use of snares, birdlime, live decoys, nets, traps and poison. It encourages the contracting parties especially to protect the wintering, feeding, breeding and staging areas of migratory birds. Certain species such as the black stork, white stork, corncrake, nightjar, swallow and all raptors and owls (Appendix II) are strictly protected.

Cyprus No Yes

France Yes Yes

Greece Yes Yes

Italy Yes Yes

Malta No Yes

Portugal Yes Yes

Spain Yes Yes

Turkey No Yes

General bird protection All birds species (with a few exceptions) must be protected by law.

Legitimate hunting Each country may permit certain species (as listed in Annex A) to be

hunted provide this is subject to close seasons covering inter alia the spring migration and breeding periods.

Methods of hunting All indiscriminate methods of capturing or killing birds - eg Bird-liming, traps and poisons - are prohibited.

Pest species A few species are not required to be protected, eg the herring gull,

carrion crow and starling.

The BirdLife Partner Doğal Hayatı Koruma Derneği (DHKD) has been concentrating on educating hunters, young people and the authorities about birds and the law. As part of this process, 40,000 copies of a hunting poster are distributed throughout Turkey each year, with the co-operation of the forestry authority, hunting organizations and police stations.