SHout, the Spring Hunting Out campaign today hit out at false claims by hunters about the referendum to abolish spring hunting.
Romina Tolu, Campaign Coordinator, said hunters were trying to mislead the public by spreading misinformation about spring hunting and frightening others by telling people that if they vote No to abolish spring hunting, their hobbies would be next.
“We trust that voters will realise that the scaremongering and false claims being made by hunters is happening because they do not have any real justification for calling on people to vote in favour of keeping spring hunting.”
Reacting to the hunters' claims on the areas used by hunting and the right for a spring season, SHout said 80% of the Maltese countryside including many of the best areas of countryside are used for hunting,
"There are about 10,000 hunters out of a population of about 400,000 people. This means that about 2.5% of the population are allowed to occupy 80% of the countryside, making it a no-go area for most Maltese during the spring hunting season, the best time of year for picnics, walks and enjoying nature."
"No other European Union country allows the shooting of these birds in spring. This is because these are the strong birds that have survived winter in Africa and are returning to mainland Europe to lay eggs, breed and increase the population of birds. These are the birds that produce many young birds allowing for the shooting of birds in autumn when it is much less damaging to bird populations."
The campaign said only Malta uses derogations from the Birds Directive to allow the hunting of migrating of birds in spring. Spring hunting for fun was phased out of all other European countries and now Malta should do the same.
Hunters could shoot 41 types of bird in unlimited numbers for five months between September 1 and January 31 each year. They did not need a spring hunting season because they could still shoot birds for nearly half of the year.
The campaign insisted that the successful abolition of spring hunting would not affect other hobbies.
NEW AMBASSADORS
The Spring Hunting Out Campaign also announced more ambassadors who will be supporting a NO vote to stop spring hunting.
Joining Moira Delia, Saviour Balzan, Joseph Mangion, Seb Tanti Burlo, Frank Zammit, Renzo Spiteri, Nick Morales, Carina Camilleri and Iggy Fenech are Pierre Portelli, Coryse Borg and Edward Caruana Dingli.
"The Spring Hunting Out Campaign ambassadors are courageous enough to speak out. It is extremely encouraging to have many high profile Maltese from all walks of life supporting the campaign,” Ms Tolu said.
Pierre Portelli, Sliema local councillor said he would be voting No, because migrating birds should be allowed live and not be killed in spring.
Swimmer Edward Caruana Dingli said hunting in spring could not be considered a fair sport and the sheer density of hunters in the Maltese countryside equipped with firearms was extremely destructive".
Coryse Borg said that While many hunters abide by the rules there were those who not only flaunted but broke them. "It is not just Turtle Dove and Quail which end up being targeted in the spring hunting seasons. They hunt other breeds that are migrating, and are therefore contributing to the decimation of these species.”