[WATCH] 'No' vote will ensure that public land remains public – SHout

'No' vote will ensure that public land remains public • Video by Ray Attard

Voting 'No' in Saturday's spring hunting referendum would ensure that public land remains accessible to all citizens and not taken over by hunters.

SHout spokesman Mark Sultana was addressing journalists at a Natura 2000 site in Pembroke, a land which would be "occupied by hunters in a week's time unless the 'no' vote passes".

"Like hundreds of other sites around Malta and Gozo, this area is today a peaceful area enjoyed by walkers and joggers, and a safe place for migrating birds to land and feed when they arrive, exhausted, on our shores. However, in just one week's time, this area could be occupied by hunters once more if the NO vote does not win," Sultana said.

Sultana explained that hunters literally take over public land and other Natura 2000 sites in Spring and not only stop the public from entering them but they also kill birds. 

“Worse still, they kill thousands of migrating birds that are on their way to breed when in a Natura 2000 site one does not simply shoot birds when they are on their way to breed,” Sultana said.

Sultana added that these illegally built hideouts would be full of hunters shooting and that the peace would be shattered.

“It will no longer be a safe place for walkers and joggers as they have to constantly watch out for falling lead, and what chance would birds stand flying across a small area so tightly packed with hunters?"

Sultana said that spring migration was well under way now, with people enjoying the spectacle of migrating birds passing over our islands every day.

“Huge birds of prey such as marsh harriers, colourful hoopoes, flocks of herons, all looking for a safe place to rest," he stressed.

"While other countries in Europe are undertaking projects to encourage birds to breed and recover, here in Malta a section of our society is intent only on destroying them,” Sultana added.

Sultana reminded those gathered that hunters still had 5 months to shoot 41 species in autumn and winter and that the rest of us deserve spring.

“Vote 'no' on 11 April to save migrating birds, vote 'no' to protect our countryside,” he urged.

Sultana referred to the 27,000 votes that still need to be collected and said that SHout was encouraged by the early voters who voted last Saturday in the referendum.

“We call on voters to get and out and vote, to make change happen… To go out there and draw a cross an X in the box marked LE (NO).  We can win this together, and if the NO vote wins, everyone will be a winner.”