At the largest meeting of hunters, anglers and nature lovers in the region, more than 200 exhibitors from 12 countries will present their new products in four pavilions, and the organizers will welcome those interested with a number of professional programs. This year, for the first time, there will be an auction at FeHoVa, the amount raised will support the wildlife protection and education programs of the Hunting Trophy Foundation.
The 29th International Weapons, Fishing and Hunting Exhibition (FeHoVa) opened on Thursday at the Hungexpo Budapest Congress and Exhibition Center. In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén called the gun law and the hunting law the two most important topics for the hunting society. The gun law is reasonable and viable, and the Hungarian hunting law is the best in the world, he emphasized.
Minister of Agriculture István Nagy called the preservation of the Earth's biodiversity particularly important and emphasized that, in addition to the protection of endangered species, the management of huntable species is also a means of this.
Biological diversity provides an ecosystem essential to human life, and much needs to be done so that as many people as possible realize its indispensability, he said.
Zsolt Semjén spoke about the fact that the permanent Hungarian address required for gun ownership and hunting tests will be abolished, as this would exclude Hungarians living across the border and abroad, and he mentioned that in some cases the mandatory technical examination of weapons, for example for inheritance, will be abolished. He added that the Chamber's proposals will be implemented in the Weapons Act and related regulations.
The deputy prime minister mentioned it as the most current topic, and also called lead beer unreasonable, as well as the Brussels provision requiring a complete ban on lead weights for fishermen, and drew attention to the fact that there are still no adequate tests on the effects of the steel beer proposed instead.
He also mentioned that the vicinity of the shooting ranges was examined, and that there is no lead contamination in the groundwater. He also emphasized that Hungary is at the forefront of protecting wetlands, Hungarian regulations are stricter than EU ones.
The Deputy Prime Minister congratulated the team of the hunting magazine Nimród, saying that the magazine, which has a circulation of almost 80,000, competes with any hunting magazine in the world. The number of copies will be increased, and all Hungarian hunters across the border will also receive them, he explained.
He called it important that, inspired by the World Hunting Exhibition, more and more local hunting museums were created, and he personally received many offers for this purpose.
Agriculture Minister István Nagy mentioned the coronavirus epidemic, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and the negative effects of the failed EU sanctions policy among the challenges affecting the wildlife sector.
The decrease in sales revenue from foreign hired hunting, the weakening of the game meat market, the loss of income due to the appearance of African swine fever and last year's extreme drought made the operation of the sector difficult, he added.
He emphasized that the suppression of significant wildlife damage is one of the important and timely issues of the sector, and he mentioned that hunting is key to maintaining a healthy wildlife population with good genetic values.
István Nagy recalled: the domestic legal environment of wildlife management has been renewed in recent years. The comprehensive amendment of the law on game protection, game management, and hunting and its executive decree contributed to the fact that hunting and game management activities that adapt to the needs and expectations of the times, but do not break with hunting traditions, can take place in the country, he said.
The minister also touched on forest management, emphasizing that the forest is a constantly renewing natural resource and the common heritage of the nation. When using the forests, the ministry keeps in mind that the farming opportunities will be preserved for future generations, preserving biological diversity and viability, he explained.
At the largest meeting of hunters, anglers and nature lovers in the region, more than 200 exhibitors from 12 countries will present their new products in four pavilions, and the organizers will welcome those interested with a number of professional programs. This year, for the first time, there will be an auction at FeHoVa, the amount raised will support the wildlife protection and education programs of the Hunting Trophy Foundation. The four-day event series is organized together with the 10th anniversary FeHoVa-MEOESZ International Dog Show.
MTI
Photo: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák
