Urgent Call to Suspend San Huberto Hunting Championship
Citizen Platform Requests Immediate Action
The citizen platform Salvar Chira Soria has urgently requested the precautionary suspension of the San Huberto regional hunting championship. Scheduled for 6th June, the event is organised by the Canary Hunting Federation in collaboration with the Tinerfeña Federation and the Cabildo of Tenerife, taking place at the Ifara Intensive Hunting Reserve in Granadilla.
Allegations of Regulatory Violations
According to a complaint accessed by Atlántico Hoy, Salvar Chira Soria had previously raised concerns in April regarding the federation’s competition calendar. The Cabildo of Tenerife had allegedly ordered the transfer of all hunting and shooting championships from Ifara to Tajao in Arico to distance them from the protected area. Ifara is not only a natural monument but also houses Guanche ruins.
Granadilla confirmed this information, stating that the municipality had informed Salvar Chira Soria in April through a written notice. This letter stated: “The Ayuntamiento of Granadilla de Abona prepared a technical report due to numerous complaints and the importance of the natural monument from an archaeological and environmental perspective. This report highlighted the negative impacts, such as lead, cartridge casings, and noise affecting wildlife, which was forwarded to the Cabildo along with the municipal complaint.”
Following this report, the document continued, “a notification was recently received from the Insular Cabildo announcing the suspension and relocation of all hunting and shooting competitions away from the reserve, with the new location set in the highlands of Tajao, outside any protected area.”
Legal Actions Requested
In light of this information, and with the championship set to occur on the 6th, the platform has requested that the Cabildo of Tenerife not only urgently suspend the event due to alleged disobedience, but also open a sanctioning procedure against the federation. They are seeking to refer the matter to the criminal courts and inform the Public Prosecutor’s Office and Seprona, while requesting to be recognised as an interested party in the proceedings.
Cabildo’s Response
When contacted by Atlántico Hoy, the Cabildo of Tenerife denied any relocation of the event to Arico, asserting that only the shooting tournaments were moved. “These are two different types of championships. The intensive hunting reserve remains for hunting purposes,” stated the insular corporation.
Federation’s Position
Antonio Porras, Treasurer of the Tenerife Insular Federation and Secretary of the Canary Hunting Federation, reiterated the message from the Cabildo, asserting that the Ifara championship is for hunting, not shooting, claiming that only the latter was relocated to Arico. Porras added, “The cartridges used must be picked up from the ground and handed over to the judge.” He further stated that the Ifara Intensive Hunting Reserve does not affect protected areas or raise safety concerns.
This outlet has reached out to the Ayuntamiento of Granadilla de Abona to verify the initial claim made in April that the Cabildo had relocated “all hunting and shooting championships” outside Ifara, but has yet to receive a response.
