Sula Sgeir’s annual Gannet hunt has been denied permission by Nature Scotland.
Nature Scotland, the governing body responsible for the conservation of Scotland’s natural heritage, has denied permission to Scottish islanders to stage their annual hunt of Gannet chicks (‘guga’) on the uninhabited isle of Sula Sgeir, an island 64km north of Ness, Lewis. It is the first time in over 400 years that the annual hunt will not be happening on the island.
The decision not to grant a license this year was on the grounds of evidence provided by a new population model that was able to assess the impact of various factors, including Avian flu, offshore wind farms, by-catching (accidental catching by commercial fishing operations), and the guga hunt itself. According to Nature Scotland, the outbreak of Avian flu in the Gannet population in 2022 has caused a significant decline in the bird’s population – estimated between 23-41% – and it is uncertain to what extent the Gannet population will recover following the outbreak. Prior hunts did not take place in 2022, 2023, or 2024 due to concerns regarding the spread of Avian flu.
The guga hunt is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, though modern hunting requires permission to be granted before the hunt can be staged. The Scottish Government would have to change the legislation in order to enforce a ban on the hunt. The origins of the guga hunt can be traced back to the Viking settlers, with the birds being killed as a food source for the settlers on Ness, Lewis, due to the scarcity of resources for survival. The Men of Ness were a group of ten islanders who would undertake the hunt over the span of 10 days. Other Scottish islands have held seabird hunts in the past, including Orkney and Shetland.
The decision has been welcomed and applauded by animal welfare activists, but was met with disappointment by the community of Ness and those defending the tradition. The Scottish Seabird Centre applauded the decision, claiming it was the right decision for the seabirds. A petition to the Scottish Parliament was signed by over 106,000 people, calling for the Wildlife and Countryside Act to be amended to prohibit the guga hunt due to its perception as unnecessary and cruel towards the gannet population.
Torcuil Rennie, the Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, has submitted a freedom of information request to enquire as to how Nature Scotland had reached its decision. He defends this move by arguing: “Last year, when the Men of Ness took 500 guga from Sula Sgeir, the science backed them up and the recommendation was for the hunt to go ahead. The numbers haven’t changed, the situation hasn’t changed, but the way of measuring the numbers has changed.” Agnes Rennie, the chair of the local community group for the north of the Isle of Lewis, Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, stated: “The guga hunt is a centuries-old tradition which reinforces our unique communal identity and helps families keep ancient Gaelic customs alive and relevant in the modern world.”
Nature Scotland has stated that the refusal to permit the hunt this year does not prohibit the islanders from applying for a license in the future, but has said that all future applications will continue to be assessed based on evidence and legislation.
