After the accidental murder of a hiker by a young hunter in Cantal, many environmentalists have called for strong measures concerning the supervision of hunting. The Secretary of State for Biodiversity, Bérangère Abba, has promised to act quickly.
Many have called for a ban on hunting on weekends and during school holidays to limit the number of accidents. “A young woman died after being hit by a bullet during an afternoon hunt. Thoughts to his loved ones. We need more regulation of this activity, it is urgent!” Presidential candidate Yannick Jadot insisted on Saturday.
The finalist in the environmentalist primary Sandrine Rousseau, as well as the rebellious MEP France Manon Aubry, promoted the ban on all forms of hunting during days of rest or holidays: “The tragedies are increasing, said the latter on RMC. The forest must belong on weekends to hikers and walkers. Five days of the week are enough to go hunting. We must no longer go to the forest with fear in our stomachs.
Bérangère Abba, Secretary of State for Biodiversity, assured on social networks that “decisions will follow, so that never again”, in reaction to the tragedy which cost the life of a 25-year-old hiker. In the meantime, the 17-year-old hunter has been taken into custody for manslaughter.
Today at #Cassaniouze (15) a young hiker died after being accidentally shot by a hunter. Unbearable and unacceptable tragedy.
The investigation is underway, the decisions will follow, so that never again.
To his family and loved ones, my deepest condolences
— Berangere Abba (@b_abba) February 19, 2022
Last November, the Minister for Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili had assured, after another hunting accident, to be “open to debate” to ban these practices on weekends. Without really taking a position on the subject, the minister had rather favored the strengthening of controls and measures at the local level, in consultation with the hunting federations, in particular to withdraw their licenses from hunters who do not respect the rules.
According to the report on hunting accidents and incidents 2020-2021, published a few months ago, “70 hunters were fined and around ten legal proceedings were opened for offenses likely to constitute misdemeanors ( …) The fall in the number of accidents has been regular for more than 20 years but our efforts to reduce them must continue. A hunting accident is always one too many accidents”, specifies the ministry. On the occasion of the publication of this report, the government recalled the measures which were adopted in July 2019 by Parliament, namely the obligation to wear fluorescent vests for hunters during these actions and the establishment of signaling panels for collective shooting hunting operations.
Hunting remains a slippery subject for the government, Emmanuel Macron having forged strong links with the National Federation of Hunters. A proximity very often decried by his political opponents, in particular by ecologists and rebellious France, Jean-Luc Mélenchon even pleading for a total ban on hunting.