Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat stressed on Sunday that illegal hunting will not be tolerated, after the "yes" camp has won Saturday's referendum on whether the country should continue to allow opening of a spring hunting season.

The spring hunting season, which kills thousands of migrant birds every year, will open on next Tuesday as scheduled after the "yes" camp gained 50.8 percent of the vote in the referendum.

Muscat said the people had given what was perhaps the last chance to honest hunters to practice their sport, but they had to realise that the storyline had changed now.

Regarding hunting, the prime minister said he had instructed the country's law enforcers not to tolerate any law-breaking and action would be taken against violations.

Enforcement, he said, should not be only in the hands of the police but all genuine hunters.

No hunting before Tuesday would be allowed and the rules for the season opening on Tuesday had to be respected, the prime minister said.