A court ruling in Sicily suddenly blocks the hunting season

A decision by a regional administrative court has forced the closure of the hunting season in Sicily. Similar closures have occurred in previous years, each time halting the season for several days, but the latest verdict has sparked sharp discontent among members of the professional associations.

A number of organisations, including the Sicilian and national branches of Federcaccia, the Sicilian Hunting and Nature Association and the Regional Council for Fisheries and Sports, have announced the preparation of a complaint to the Sicilian Council of Administrative Justice. They are requesting a review of the court ruling, citing inconsistencies with national and regional wildlife planning regulations.

The conflict has also been exacerbated by the actions of the regional department of territory and environment, which independently set new restrictions to settle the infringement procedure by the European Commission. Communities are outraged that the department adopted these regulations without public dialogue and even without the approval of the relevant department of agriculture and forestry.