NGO Friends of the Earth has joined the call by Alternattiva Demokratika for a referendum to abolish Spring hunting.

In a statement, the environmental lobby group confirmed that it will be joining the Coalition Against Spring Hunting.

“For too long the country has been held ransom by a minority, when the majority of Maltese abhor the hunting and trapping of birds,” the NGO said.

The statement went on to urge other organisations to join the coalition insisting “the only democratic path which will give government a legal mandate on how to proceed on this contentious issue.”