The spring hunting referendum is being held because those who wanted to get rid of hunting in Malta had lost the battle at European level, Kathleen Grima, the lawyer heading the Yes campaign said this morning.

Addressing a public debate in Rabat this morning, Dr Grima said the most senior European institutions had accepted Malta’s right to derogate for a limited spring hunting season.

Moreover, there was ample proof that spring hunting could take place in Malta in a sustainable manner and that the number of turtle doves and quails harvested in Malta could never have any impact on the European population of the two species.

Daniel Xriha noted that, according to the last scientific study commissioned by the government, the population of quails and turtle doves in their countries of origin was stable or had marginally increased.