Guga hunt protest turns attention to NatureScot
Last week, protestors gathered for a second time outside of the Scottish Parliament demanding an end to the guga hunt, and to witness the petition – now close to 90,000 signatures - being officially discussed by MSPs.
Animal Concern attended the protest last Wednesday, organised by Protect the Wild.
Image credit: Protect the Wild
A quick reminder for those of you who have not yet heard about this awful tradition: every year, a group of ten men from Ness, Isle of Lewis, travel to the remote island of Sula Sgeir (a special nesting site for Northern Gannets) to capture and kill gannet chicks (also known as guga) to eat as a local delicacy. It is only permissible due to an amendment of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which grants a specific exemption for the hunt - subject to licensing by NatureScot - despite the species otherwise being protected.
Realistically, there is no longer enough time for new laws or policy changes regarding the guga hunt to be made before the current Parliament dissolves in April, ahead of the Scottish elections in May. However, MSPs acknowledged that the issue deserves more time for scrutiny and debate.
Therefore, the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting was a positive one, with the petition shortlisted as one of the few that will remain open and carry over into the next Parliament. Keeping the petition open ensures the next government inherits the issue with strong public backing, growing media attention and clear momentum, rather than starting again from zero.
This decision will be finalised by the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee in their next few meetings, and we will be keeping a close eye.
But the gannets of Sula Sgeir don’t have the luxury of waiting. If nothing changes, they will be beaten to death in August this year. That’s why our attention now turns to NatureScot, who are responsible for giving the men of Ness their license to kill.
Given that the number of gannets on Sula Sgeir have fallen below their official citation level and are still recovering from the onslaught of avian influenza – of which they were among the most impacted species - it’s unconscionable for NatureScot to license this year’s hunt. Not to mention there are HUGE question marks around how the hunt is overseen, including biosecurity hazards and how they ensure the killing is as ‘humane’ as they claim.
So please sign the new petition calling on NatureScot to stop licensing of the guga hunt.
Together with your all important support, we will make sure this is an issue NatureScot cannot ignore. Their licensing of the hunt shows they’re putting the interest of the few over the many, and we intend to change that.
A selection of some media coverage the guga hunt opposition has received.