The contest over hunting and trapping in Malta : a study of conflict in policy-making

Abstract

This case study will look into the highly contested environment of hunting and trapping on the Maltese islands. Being an issue, which has been in the public debate for many years, was one of the main reasons why I choose to analyse the subject at hand and the related policies. One should realise that it is not an easy task to keep impartiality when discussing the subject and this was one of the greatest challenges in writing up this dissertation. Considering the hype that surrounds the issue of Hunting and Trapping many important issues and the actual facts were ignored or forgotten, which makes the actual analysis of the issue more interesting. It shows the environment around which policies are drafted and also brings to light how policies have evolved over the years. Both Primary and Secondary research were conducted in order to give a basis to this dissertation. When it comes to secondary research, the majority of newspapers articles related to the subject were analysed and sifted in order to present the most relevant information that gives better insight and continuity. The main source of Primary research were in-depth interviews with two of the leading lobby groups on the island. These interviews provided great insight and assisted me in getting an explanation for many unanswered questions.