With six protected birds shot since the start of the hunting season, a potential reduction in punishment on illegal hunting activity, and a discussions concerning a hunters' petition which attempts to block any future referenda on the pastime gathering momentum, The Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Rights, Fisheries and Agriculture Clint Camilleri has refused to answer questions sent to him by The Malta Independent.

The Parliamentary Secretary, who was elected into parliament for the first time in the previous election, was sent the following questions roughly three weeks ago when two protected birds were shot in the first few days of the autumn hunting season.

- What is the Parliamentary Secretary's position on the hunters' petition aimed at blocking any future referenda on their pastime? Does he agree with the proposal?

- Within 5 days of the hunting season, two protected birds were shot. Can the PS provide a comment? Given that illegalities continue to occur, does the PS agree that punishment in the form of fines and prison sentences should be reduced?

This pattern of avoiding questions the hunting issue was prevalent under Camilleri's  predecessor, Roderick Galdes, and the Ornis Committee Chairman Mark Anthony Falzon. It is also apparent within OPM, who have also failed to answer questions sent over a week ago along with a number sent throughout previous hunting seasons.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was asked for comment after a protected bird was shot over and landed in De La Salle College, given that he had the hunting season three days ahead of is official closure back in April 2015, when a protected bird of prey was shot down by a hunter and fell into the football pitch of a school in Cottonera, right up the road from the aforementioned school.

Speaking on the incident then, Dr Muscat had said that "despite sharp decline in illegalities, today's hunting incident is inexcusable. I have decided to immediately close down the season."

It must be noted that since Muscat took office in 2013 there has been a steady decline in illegalities. However , the last two season have seen an increase. Figures released by the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU) show, 32 protected birds were shot in the last autumn hunting season, 23 of which were shot in September alone.

13 protected birds were shot down during the last spring hunting season, according to data released by Birdlife Malta.

The silence from the government is puzzling given that the Prime Minister pledged to revise the law regarding fines for hunters and trappers, calling the way the courts are implementing this law as "draconian" and after FKNK President Joe Perici Calascione told The Times of Malta that a petition aimed at blocking any future referenda on hunting and trapping would be present to Parliament's Petitions Committee by an MP.

The opposition, and former PN Leader Simon Busuttil, consistently distanced themselves from the issue, and it is of little surprise that both parties are hesitant to comment when the hunting lobbies command 15,000 members, not including their members' immediate family.