The Tourism and Culture Ministry and the Malta Tourism Authority yesterday strongly deplored the "senseless act" committed by irresponsible persons at Nadur Tower in Dwejra last weekend.

In a statement, the ministry and the authority said they supported BirdLife in their efforts to attract birdwatchers to Malta. These efforts are yielding results as witnessed by the sell-out bird-watching camp held in Malta over the past days and the keen interest shown by tour operators specialising in bird-watching holidays to include Malta in their next brochures.

"The placing of dead birds of prey in areas frequented by these birdwatchers goes against our tourism offering, based on hospitality, heritage and diversity. This act will damage our prospects of developing this tourism niche and will generate unwanted negative publicity for Malta in our main source markets. Tourism benefits us all and we must all support it through our actions. These few individuals with their wanton acts are doing the opposite."

The ministry hoped that the police would find cooperation from all quarters in their efforts to identify the culprits. It is in the interest of all, not least of the majority of hunters who observe our laws and regulations that the few, who persist in breaking the law, are brought to justice.