THE Scottish Government’s environment agency has officially blocked the centuries-old Western Isles “guga hunt” from going ahead this year.
At a meeting of NatureScot’s board on Monday, members agreed to refuse the request.
The hunt has been an annual tradition in Ness, north Lewis, since the 15th century, with 10 men setting out for the rocky island of Sula Sgeir 40 miles away.
Young gannets – guga – are taken from open cliffs using a pole and noose, before being gutted, salted and preserved in brine.
Environmental and animal rights groups are strongly opposed to the practice, staging protests around it.
At the conclusion of the meeting on Monday, NatureScot’s chairman Colin Galbraith thanked officials for dealing with the licence application “professionally, impartially and with integrity”.
The agency said later: “We received a licence application from the Men of Ness for a 2026 guga hunt.
“After assessing the application against the legislation and using the most recent scientific evidence, our board’s decision is to refuse a licence.
“We have used the latest information available and commissioned an updated population model to help predict the effect of the guga hunt on the gannet population.
“As a result, we have concluded an adverse impact is possible, both at the applicants’ requested application limit of 2,000 juvenile gannets, and at a reduced limit of 500.”
The organisation added: “This decision does not prevent the Men of Ness applying for and obtaining a licence in future years.
“The hunt is recognised in law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, and NatureScot has a duty to consider any licence application based upon the best available science.”
OneKind chief executive Jason Rose, who is opposed to the guga hunt, said: “We are very relieved that the lives of thousands of young gannets will be spared this year and many more birds won’t bear the emotional toll of disruption to their lives, families and communities.
“OneKind has presented clear evidence about the animal welfare risks of the hunt and engaged constructively since a licence for it was granted last year, as NatureScot has recognised.”
He added: “However, as long as the loophole in the law exists, there is a chance the guga hunt could be permitted again in the future.
“The Scottish Government must change the law so that this outdated practice, which causes so much harm, is ended for good.”
