The need to clamp down on illegal hunting was made evident following a statement by BirdLife Malta last week.

A total of 242 illegal hunting incidents were recorded in less than a month between 12 September and 5 October, the NGO said, highlighting the work of its 2025 Raptor Camp.

“Despite operating with an average of only three teams a day, made up of 12 international and 16 local staff and volunteers, teams recorded an average of ten illegalities every day.”

This is no small number, and it goes to show the important work that these volunteers do.

More than that, it highlights the need for more effective deterrents and the need to ensure that action is taken against those who commit illegalities.

It said that 72% of these cases involved the illegal use of electronic callers - devices used to lure birds by broadcasting recorded calls. “One in every five of these callers was found to be targeting protected species such as Stone Curlew (Eurasian Thick-knee), Grey Heron, and even Long-eared Owl. Used mostly during the night and throughout the early hours of the morning, many hunters have been observed switching on callers to attract species such as the European Nightjar, only to turn them off by around 6:20am.”

“With environmental police units starting their field operations after the starting time of hunting hours, this practically guarantees no interception, as can be attested to multiple reports initiated by BirdLife Malta on the illegal use of bird callers which mostly ended in a negative result, except for one incident in the Naxxar area,” it said.

The need for more effective enforcement during the hunting season is clear, and it is also clear that not enough resources are allocated to preventing such illegalities.

Those who break the rules give all hunters a bad name, and it is unfair on those who abide by the regulations and rules. Hunting groups themselves have condemned acts of illegal hunting in the past, and should continue to do so.

Those few who hunt protected species are also contributing to harming nature.

A story published by the Times of Malta was also quite shocking, reading that a falcon belonging to a Falconer was shot at. Such actions are to be condemned, and one hopes that whoever is responsible is caught.

The only way to curb illegal hunting is to ensure that enforcement is swift, officers are available at all times, and that action is taken against those who break the rules.

The government needs to take a stricter stance on the issue by providing the resources necessary to cut down the number of illegalities taking place. If it weren’t for volunteers, most of the hunting illegalities would go unnoticed. Enforcement in this sector is relying on volunteers to file reports, which in itself shows that enforcement in this sector is weak.