The hunting of bears for recreational purposes through derogation from the Habitats Directive

12.5.2021

Question for written answer  E-002548/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Nicolae Ştefănuță (Renew)

Bear hunting is banned in Romania under the Habitats Directive and Romanian legislation. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests does, however, approve hunting quotas each year for bear population management purposes, as the population of bears is considered too high.

However, as a result of this derogation, animals protected under the Habitats Directive are also shot for recreational purposes in paid hunting expeditions that cost up to EUR 20 000 per animal. The media reported that a bear that posed no danger and did not interact with humans was shot for a trophy in a Natura 2000 site.

• 1.Does the Commission have a detailed census of the population of Ursus arctos or does it have programmes to support Member States in establishing it? Can a Member State issue a derogation without a science-based census?
• 2.Can a Member State issue a derogation for killing without implementing preventative measures or issue a derogation for hunting within a protected Natura 2000 site if the bears there are not posing any threats and the shooting does not meet any of the criteria in the Directive?
• 3.Did Romania provide a detailed report on derogations from the Habitats Directive for the period from 2019 to 2020?