Conservationists say politicians have been ‘gagged’ on hunting and countryside

156 candidates failed to answer a questionnaire by conservationists BirdLife, which asked political candidates to answer eight questions about their positions on wildlife and countryside issues.

It was sent to a total of 165 candidates: 85 Labour, 71 Nationalist and nine from Alternativa Demokratika. 

While all the AD candidates answered in the first week, and despite BirdLife sending the questionnaire twice as an online survey and then hand-delivered in individually addressed envelops to the Nationalist and Labour Party headquarters, the response was disappointing.

"It is worrying, as it either indicates a widespread unwillingness of to engage in public discussion about wildlife and countryside issues that affect voters, or that candidates may have been instructed by their parties not to respond," policy officer Chris Debono said.

"If election candidates refuse to publicly state their positions on such issues, how are voters supposed to assess which candidates best represent their views?" Debono asked.

Amongst those who failed to answer the questionnaire were both party leaders; their deputies, Simon Busutil and Louis Grech; environment, tourism and culture minister Mario de Marco, and counterpart Leo Brincat, as well as pro-hunting MP Michael Falzon. 

However, the answers of those candidates who did respond showed "a general willingness to seek improvements on both conservation and safe public access to the countryside," Debono said. 

Every respondent acknowledged Malta's obligation to protect migrating birds and agreed that hunting and trapping should be banned in public nature parks, such as Xrobb L-Għagin and Majjistral Nature and History Park. All the respondents also said that they would support the enforced removal of illegal structures and signs from public and private land in the countryside, and the extension of no-hunting zones around residential areas. 

Thirteen out of fourteen candidates said they would support the formation of a dedicated wildlife crime unit to enforce nature and wildlife protection laws and tackle the problem of illegal hunting and trapping.

Perhaps most significantly, according to BirdLife's Conservation Manger, Nicholas Barbara, twelve out of the fourteen respondents agreed that Malta "should strictly follow and enforce the Birds Directive without the application of derogations to allow hunting in spring and trapping".

"The recognition that spring hunting and trapping are not sustainable or justifiable is very encouraging," Barbara said. "It is a shame that more of the candidates didn't respond." 

BirdLife has also launched its "Your Voice Counts' campaign video, in which members of the public speak out about abuses in the countryside and call on politicians to stop chasing hunters' votes and take action to protect wildlife and safe access to Malta's countryside for all.

Talking about the video, which can be watched on YouTube, via BirdLife Malta's website or facebook page, BirdLife Executive Director Steve Miclewright said: "The video really shows that people want their candidates to be strong and stand up to the bullying of the hunting lobby. The Your Voice Counts campaign asks people to give this message directly to their candidates, it is unfortunate for Malta's democratic processes that candidates have not provided voters with the information they need to talk to them in a constructive way."