As the yes camp won the spring hunting referendum and the hunting season is set to open on Tuesday, a debate started on twitter, trending #maltaslaughter, with a number of foreigners criticising Malta for retaining the practice in spring and for continuing to kill birds as they migrate over our country.

Some even claimed that tourists should take a stand and not visit Malta, because of its practices. Others said the decision should not have been made internally and urged the European Union to take action against the island.

One frequent visitor to Malta said he will not be visiting this year following the referendum result, adding that the EU should expel Malta’s membership.

Meanwhile, a number of Maltese, clearly against spring hunting, tweeted they are ashamed to be citizens of the country.

Below are a few tweets.

 

 Andrew Sanger @andrewsange

#Malta, killing migrating birds that overfly your country is not an internal matter. Decision to continue #maltaslaughtermust be challenged

Kathryn Newton @NewtonK

All bird loving, wildlife loving, anti hunt environmentalist EU inhabitants should BOYCOTT MALTA! #maltaslaughter

 

 Allan Bantick OBE @AllanBoat

@jet2tweets This is sick. Nobody should ever, ever go to #Malta until the massacre of small birds ends. #maltaslaughter

 

Tracy Martin @traimartin

#Malta it is not a 'local matter' if u r shooting the World's birds that are just unlucky enough to fly over your country #maltaslaughter

 

 

Nigel Cini @NigelCiniAguis

Proud to be Maltese? Maybe not today. #maltaslaughter

 

Ivan Degiorgo @ivs026

Pls blame d politicians and not the people.Both party leaders forced their vote on members #maltaslaughter @JosephMuscat_JM @simonbusuttil

 

Norbert Bonnici @norbertbonnici

I'm ashamed to be Maltese... What a sad sad day... #BoycottMalta #maltaslaughter #referendum2015