Maltese hunters can only hunt a maximum of 11,000 turtle doves and 5,000 quail, which is only 0.7 per cent and 0.4 per cent of the European population respectively, according to the Yes for spring hunting camp.

According to the guidance document on hunting under the Birds Directive, the taking of one per cent or less has a negligible effect on the population dynamics of the species, spokesman Nyal Xuereb pointed out.

“This is proof of the exaggeration tactics being used by the No camp. Anyone who reads the sentence of the European Court of Justice in 2009 and observes the way the derogation was accepted can understand that if the turtle dove and quail were at risk of extinction, then the European Commission itself would stop the season out of its own accord.”

Malta’s derogation, Mr Xuereb continued, is based on the fact that there was no satisfactory alternative, on low takings, strict control and surveillance, the fact that birds were shot at judiciously because they were eaten and the selective hunting methods.

In Scotland, hunters are allowed to hunt gannets during the spring, while Latvia hunts for woodcocks and Finland for long tail ducks.