The Prime Minister should understand that hunters are not a privileged section of Maltese society and it would be absurd if the government even consideres opening the spring hunting season at this delicate time, Birdlife Malta said.

BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana said: "If Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri - who has no legal rights over the environmental laws - or any other Cabinet member, open a spring hunting season, this would be highly irresponsible. It is unacceptable that in 2020 the government continues to be spineless towards a lobby which does not show any respect for Maltese society and which has lost control of its own members. Hundreds of hunters are aware of the present situation so much so that they are abusing the lack of public and police presence in the countryside to literally do what they want. These organisations - without any shame whatsoever - are even going as far as insisting with the Goverment to open a spring hunting season! Apart from the fact that at the moment the Government has far more important priorities, this is surely not the time to burden police with more enforcement at such a delicate juncture, especially when the spring hunting derogation requires strict monitoring. Spring hunting is also unsustainable as it allows the killing of birds flying north to their breeding grounds."

Birdlife said that over the past few weeks, its members observed several episodes of illegal hunting and trapping. "Reports received by BirdLife Malta from the public indicate widespread illegal hunting on hundreds of herons, waders and birds of prey which have seeked shelter in the Maltese Islands, particularly last Wednesday. The illegal hunting incidents were mostly evident in Gozo. Some of the members of the public who contacted us explained how they witnessed first-hand a number of hunters with guns in the countryside around Malta and Gozo. All this is happening during the closed season."

The organisation said that in the past days a number of birds of prey were recovered, including an Osprey, all confirmed as having been illegally shot.

"Yesterday, in just 24 hours in fact, BirdLife Malta also received a Common Kestrel and a Lesser Kestrel, together with an Eleonora's Falcon received earlier - all illegal hunting casualties."

Birdlife also noted that any decision to be taken in regard to the spring hunting season situation "remains in limbo following the illegal decision to place the hunting and trapping remit under the Gozo Ministry - a diabolical move which led BirdLife Malta to take the Government to Court."

It said it deems any action or decision to be taken in this regard as illegitimate if not taken under the Minister for the Environment, as stipulated by Malta's environmental laws. "We also hope that the Environment Minister is not used as a rubber stamp for the Gozo Minister's decisions."

Birdlife said that since spring migration has already started, it will continue monitoring activity in the countryside and collaborating with police as is its duty.

It also called on the public to help by reporting hunting illegalities.