In Martinique, the administrative justice ruled in favor of several bird protection associations which demanded the suspension of hunting for certain "
uncommon, fragile
" species listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list ( IUCN).
Referred to in summary proceedings, the administrative court of Fort-de-France suspended "
the execution of the decree of July 19, 2022
" which governs the hunting season in Martinique as long as it authorizes without sufficient limitation the hunting "of several species of birds, in a decision of September 21, which AFP was able to consult.
Read alsoIn Martinique, "
it's the gun that talks at night
"
"
We are not against hunting but we are for management
", reacted, on the antenna of the local radio RCI, the president of the association for the protection of birds Le Carouge, David Belfan, member of the network Outre- Sea of the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO).
"
The harvest quotas set by the decree in dispute are largely excessive in relation to the permissible mortality limit without risk of harm to the conservation of species (...)
" for certain species, alleged the associations for the protection of birds in front of the yard.
In total, 12 species were concerned by the request of nature protectors.
Many of them migrate from North America to the Guiana Shield to spend the winter through the Lesser Antilles.
The associations are calling for "
the return of the hunting books
".
"
There are species that can be hunted but are in decline, such as the Lesser Yellowlegs or the Roux
Dowitcher "
, specifies David Belfan.
That's why the judge asked for a much lower quota.
“
The prefect of Martinique produced no brief and was not represented at the hearing
“, underlines the decision of the administrative court.
Asked about the subject on Tuesday, the prefecture of Martinique did not respond.
The hunting season opened in Martinique on July 31 and was due to end on February 15, 2023 according to the canceled text.
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