Conservation groups have praised NatureScot’s advice to refuse a licence for the 2026 guga hunt on the remote island of Sula Sgeir, but are urging the Scottish Government to impose a permanent prohibition.
The annual tradition, dating back to the 15th century, involves 10 men from Ness in north Lewis travelling 40 miles to the island to take young gannets (guga) from open cliffs using a pole and noose. The birds are then gutted, salted and preserved in brine. Historically a winter food staple, guga is now considered a delicacy.
Papers released ahead of a NatureScot board meeting next week show the organisation has recommended the hunt not go ahead on conservation grounds, to allow the gannet population to recover following bird flu. The paper states that NatureScot “recognises the strength of feeling expressed by a wide range of stakeholders on animal welfare aspects”.
Charities’ Reactions
Jason Rose, chief executive of OneKind, said: “Since the licensing of the hunt resumed last summer, OneKind has calmly and clearly made the case for this grisly piece of history to be retired, as no animal should ever have to suffer in the name of human tradition.” He added that the recommendation “shows what is possible when constructive engagement is sought and considered evidence is presented”.
OneKind is calling for a permanent ban. Rose continued: “We still need the Scottish Government to act, to close the legal loophole that allows this hunt in the first place.”
Call for Permanent Ban
Robbie Marsland, director of the League Against Cruel Sports Scotland and Northern Ireland, welcomed the recommendation but said: “It’s a stay of execution, not a reprieve.” He noted the decision was made on conservation grounds, meaning the killing could resume once the population recovers. He urged the Scottish Government to “close the loophole that lets up to 2,000 young birds on this tiny island be killed”.
Last year, NatureScot granted a licence allowing up to 500 birds to be killed, with 485 culled during the 2025 hunt.
Petition and Legal Exemption
In March, activists protested outside the Scottish Parliament as a petition to end the guga hunt passed 100,000 signatures. Devon Docherty, Scottish Campaigns Manager at Protect the Wild, said the petition had since reached 250,000 signatures. “The science now clearly matches the public opinion that there’s no place for this hunt in 2026,” he said.
The killing of wild birds is generally illegal in Scotland, but the guga hunt is exempt under Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which allows gannets to be taken from Sula Sgeir for human consumption as a historical tradition.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “While gannets are protected birds, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes specific provision for the granting of a licence for long standing, traditional hunting on the Island of Sula Sgeir to provide food for human consumption. The Scottish Government has no current plans to ban this activity as the current licensing system allows NatureScot the flexibility to consider licence applications against species conservation and animal welfare criteria.”
