FKNK president Joe Perici Calascione said this afternoon that although hunters would strongly oppose the holding of the proposed referendum for the abolition of spring hunting, he was still convinced that should the referendum still go ahead, the hunters would win it.

Speaking during a press conference before the opening of a limited spring hunting season this weekend, the FKNK president appealed to hunters to observe the law and not allow the European Commission to take advantage of the situation and impose more restrictions on hunting.

He said that the FKNK, together with the government, was trying to find a way for a derogation for the continuation of trapping of song birds. He warned that any incidents could derail this process.

Mr Perici Calascione also criticised the police, who, he said, were considering using drones to observe hunters. He said that the privacy of hunters should be respected.