Seven NGOs this afternoon called on the government and the opposition to unite on the hunting issue, saying that Malta was becoming an international and an EU embarrassment on nature protection.

Din L-Art Helwa, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Gaia Foundation, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Nature Trust (Malta) and Ramblers Association Malta expressed their concern over the behaviour of some hunters in the countryside.

They also expressed their support to BirdLife and condemned incidents which had taken place.

The NGOs noted that well before the season had opened, some irresponsible hunters had already been noted shooting at birds. All this showed the need to ensure that law enforcement in the countryside was beefed up.

"The Administrative Law Enforcement Unit within the Police force has long been understaffed. The NGOs have been calling year after year for this unit to be strengthened to combat the ever-growing illegalities in our country side. This lack of action by the national authorities is now being interpreted as the lack of environmental commitment by the government," they said.

The NGOs said they were shocked to learn that MEPA actually recommended a longer spring season and voted within the ORNIS group for such a longer hunting spring season in Malta.

"One questions MEPA's priorities on Environmental issues as the responsible authority. Our Islands are becoming an international and an EU embarrassment on nature protection," they said.

The NGOs said the government and the opposition needed to unite on this issue and stop trying to make political mileage since this called into question the environmental credibility of the two major parties.