The hunters' association Kaċċaturi San Ubertu (KSU) has described BirdLife calls for the closure of the autumn hunting season as extremist.

The association referred to  an ongoing Council of Europe initiative on the illegal killing of birds, whereby the 'BirdLife partnership' quantified the extent of illegalities per country. That data, the association said, proved Malta’s government was doing far more to stop illegalities than elsewhere and it rendered Birdlife Malta’s claims insignificant in comparison to other nations.

"Yet nowhere was there ever an extremist plea to stop or suspend a hunting season or an incessant orchestrated anti-hunting crusade as witnessed in Malta due to BLM’s extremism."

"It is inconceivable, when thanks to proper harsh legislation and thorough enforcement that has shown remarkable results, that a sector of society and their obliging partners call for undemocratic and illegal means to solve the remaining small problem. It is nothing short of shameful for UN Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh to throw scorn on Malta knowing he failed to use his influence to stop unabated massacres of unimaginable scale in other UN member states such as Egypt, Lebanon and elsewhere. Clearly with disastrous results in protecting our seas he must be seeking fame elsewhere," the association said. 

"The harm done to Malta’s reputation and its main economic sectors by these abolitionist and extremist ideals is immeasurable when compared to the few remaining hunting illegalities," the hunters added.

The association praised the work done by the enforcement authorities and congratulated the absolute majority of hunters for their exemplary behaviour and cooperation in weeding out law breakers.