The FKNK notes recent reports on the Turtle Dove and calls for a balanced interpretation of the evidence.

The Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK) has noted recent statements regarding the conservation status of the European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur), Malta’s chief game bird, particularly those concerning the Central-Eastern flyway, to which the Maltese Islands also belong.

While BirdLife Malta continues to attribute the lack of recovery of the turtle dove within the Central-Eastern Flyway primarily to hunting activity in their latest newsletter, the latest scientific and management data evidences otherwise.

According to the recently published FACE Turtle Dove Report 2026 (FACE is the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation, of which the FKNK has been a member for 39 years), harvest levels within the Central-Eastern Flyway have been reduced by almost 90% over the past five years. All member states participating in the Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) framework for the turtle dove have implemented strict quotas, monitoring systems, and reporting mechanisms to ensure sustainable management and compliance.

Importantly, the report notes that, while the population trend within the Central-Eastern Flyway has stabilised, the level of recovery anticipated following the substantial reductions in harvest has not yet been demonstrated. This suggests that although hunting pressure has been significantly reduced, other factors continue to influence the conservation status of the species. Consequently, experts involved in the AHM process have highlighted the need to further investigate and address issues such as habitat degradation, changes in agricultural practices, food availability, climatic pressures and the conditions encountered during migration and on the wintering grounds.

Therefore, the FKNK believes that it is misleading to continue presenting hunting as the sole or principal explanation for the challenges facing turtle dove populations along the Central-Eastern Flyway. The available evidence shows that hunters and national authorities have already introduced unprecedented restrictions and management measures.

Malta has consistently participated in the AHM process and implemented the required conservation measures. The FKNK remains fully committed to the principles of science-based conservation and sustainable use, which require decisions to be guided by objective evidence rather than assumptions.

The FKNK supports continued research into all factors affecting Turtle Dove populations and encourages European institutions to adopt a comprehensive approach that considers habitat quality, agricultural practices, migratory pressures, and broader environmental challenges alongside sustainable management measures.