Although spring hunting in Malta has been proven legal, the total bag limits being imposed by the government were arbitrary and incorrect because they were not based on the European Commission’s guidelines, the Saint Hubert Hunters (KSU) said.

It said in a statement that “notwithstanding incessant claims to the contrary, spring hunting in Malta has finally been proven legal.”

It urged applicants for the special licence to abide strictly by the conditions imposed by the legal notice.

“While reiterating the principle of zero tolerance, upheld by the FKNK (Hunters’ Federation) and KSU, we urge the government to ensure strict law enforcement throughout the derogation as well as before and after.”

The association said that applicants for a special hunting license no longer had to submit to a lottery and this year’s season was longer than last year’s.

However, the main unnecessary stumbling block remained.

“The total bag limits being imposed by government are arbitrary and incorrect because they are not based on the Commission's own guidelines regarding the calculation of figures to determine small numbers.

“The government is not abiding by the established formula based upon the principle of one per cent mortality of the species,” it said.

KSU said that denying Maltese hunters the possibility to hunt within the limits required to attain a "satisfactory solution" in spring following an insufficient autumn season went against the European Court of Justice ruling.

“The derogation should take into consideration the deliberations and judgment of the ECJ which ruled that 5,000 quails taken in autumn constituted inconsiderable numbers.

“The government cannot seriously and honestly consider a bag limit in spring of 2,500 quails as constituting the satisfactory alternative awarded to Maltese hunters by the court.”