The Yes Campaign in favour of Spring hunting insisted today that the countryside could be shared by hunters and other people.

Speaking at the Majjistral Park, spokeswoman Kathleen Grima said the park represented a balance between the hunters and other people, with the hunters having agreed to restrict hunting till 10am during the hunting seasons.

The hunters, she said, were cooperating with the public to enjoy the countryside.
She also referred to embellishment works done by hunters in various areas and said these could be enjoyed by all.

Campaign officials also welcomed the Ornis decision to recommend a reopening of the Spring hunting season.

Dr Grima rejected the No Campaign’s claims about sustainability, saying a study by the Wild Birds Regulation Unit showed how the population of Turtle Dove and Quail, which were hunted in Spring, was stable.

Bird populations had actually increased slightly in the countries from which the birds migrated to Malta.

Had the situation been as bad as the No Campaign made it out to be, the European Commission would have immediately stepped in, Dr Grima said.

BILLBOARD VANDALISED

The Yes camp also said today that paint was last night splashed onto one of its billboards by unknown person/s.

The billboard is situated at Saqqajja hill in Rabat.

It condemned the vandalism.