Scottish Guga Hunt

The guga hunt is a tradition unique to the community of Ness, located at the northern tip of the Isle of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Each August, a group of ten men from Ness embark on a journey across to the remote island of Sula Sgeir. There, they spend two weeks ‘harvesting’ young gannets, known in Gaelic as ‘guga’, a practice believed to have been established as early as the 15th century.

The hunt involves traditional methods passed down through generations: the men reside in stone bothies, catch the birds using poles and nooses, and prepare the meat by gutting, plucking, and salting it on-site. The practice is currently permitted under a special license, reflecting its unique status within UK wildlife protection laws.

The Scottish Seabird Centre acknowledges the deep cultural heritage of the guga hunt, a tradition that has been part of Ness community life for centuries. However, in light of the significant challenges facing seabird populations – including climate change, unsustainable fishing, offshore development, invasive species, and the devastating impact of avian influenza – we believe it is time to reconsider this practice.

While we welcome that the 2025 licence issued by NatureScot limits the hunt to 500 birds, which is a significant reduction from previous years, the broader picture for our seabirds is alarming. Nearly two-thirds of Scotland’s seabird species have declined over the past two decades, with some experiencing reductions of over 50%. In addition to these long-term declines, Scotland’s seabirds have been facing the devastating impacts of avian influenza, a disease outbreak which has resulted in mass fatalities for many species including tens of thousands of Northern Gannets. Given these concerning declines, we do not consider it appropriate to be licensing this practice. The conservation of our incredible, globally important seabird populations should be prioritised instead.

If you, like us, are concerned about the decision to issue a licence for this hunt in 2025, please consider contacting NatureScot directly. You can read our letter here, and adapt your own letter as required.

Thank you for taking action for seabirds!

Image (c) Greg MacVean, Jamie McDermaid