The national spring hunting debate sparked by the impending referendum is being keenly followed by foreign hunting firms who have been quick to submit adverts on Facebook promoting “low prices for bird hunting”.
A number of Maltese Facebook users have noticed that ever since the April 11 referendum was announced, the advertising panel on the right-hand side of Facebook’s page has included adverts about bird hunting for pheasants, ducks, quail and geese.
“These foreign companies are very astute – they realised that such a debate was going on in Malta and decided to target local users with adverts offering their service,” digital media researcher Martin Debattista told Times of Malta.
People involved in hunting tourism would be up to date on what was going on in other countries, he said.
Facebook’s advertising allows for very specific targeting by location, age, interests and other demographics. Additionally, every single word typed into a search engine is indexed.
Mr Debattista noted that, unlike the last referendum, the spring hunting poll had a very active social media presence from both camps. During the 2011 divorce referendum, the No camp had a weak social media presence.
These foreign companies are very astute – they realised that such a debate was going on in Malta
“Targeting Maltese with hunting adverts is a wise move from a commercial point of view. The important thing to remember though is that whatever we post on Facebook has a digital trail or footprint. Facebook and other ‘free’ sites are constantly selling us for profit.”
Hunter Mark Mifsud Bonnici said quite a significant proportion of Maltese hunters went abroad to practise their pastime.
“Hunting tourism is an established global practice which, in turn, generates a lot of income. The UK, for instance, generates some £70 million a year from hunting tourism, which includes big game and birds.
“Malta is the only country which doesn’t have any hunting tourism because we depend on migratory birds.”
Mr Mifsud Bonnici said popular countries among hunters included the UK, South Africa, Argentina, Finland, Serbia, Morocco and Egypt before the political turmoil.
All birds shot down were consumed, he continued: “Only those vandals who shoot down protected birds do not consume them. I myself go abroad three times a year, including before Christmas, as it’s been a tradition in our family to get a goose for Christmas.
“But not everyone can afford to go abroad. And going abroad is no alternative to spring hunting. By removing spring hunting from our islands, you’ll be removing the passion of countless Maltese hunters.”
Hunting abroad is an expensive option comprising licence fees and payments to hunting outfitters, tour guides or hunting farms, as well as flights and accommodation expenses.
Many hunters often go abroad during the winter months, mostly in search of waterfowl such as ducks and geese.