NatureScot refusal of Guga Hunt licence welcomed as win for Scotland's seabirds

The Scottish Seabird Centre has welcomed NatureScot's decision to refuse a licence for the 2026 guga hunt on Sula Sgeir, saying it is an important step towards protecting Scotland's internationally important gannets.

NatureScot concluded it could not rule out an adverse effect on the protected Sula Sgeir colony, in the face of ongoing uncertainty over its recovery from avian influenza.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Seabird Centre published a detailed assessment concluding that the licensed hunt should end, finding there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that it can continue without risking the recovery and stability of this important seabird population. While recognising the hunt's deep cultural significance to the Ness community, the charity believes protecting vulnerable seabirds under increasing pressure must now come first.

Emily Burton, Conservation Manager at Scottish Seabird Centre said:

"This is the right decision for Scotland's seabirds. Gannet populations have suffered significant declines, and many colonies are still recovering from the impacts of avian influenza. At a time when the latest evidence shows a 17% decline across the North-East Atlantic population, every avoidable pressure matters.

Our report concluded that the evidence no longer supports licensing the hunt, and we welcome NatureScot's decision to put the recovery of this internationally important colony first. We hope this marks a turning point in securing a future for Scotland's seabirds."

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Notes

The Scottish Seabird Centre’s assessment on the Guga Hunt can be found here and further information is available here: https://www.seabird.org/conservation/scottish-guga-hunt

The latest assessment of the North-East Atlantic gannet population found numbers have fallen by 17% since 2014 – equivalent to a global decline of at least 13% (Quinn et al. 2026)

Nature Scot research report 1408 – Population viability analysis of the Sula Sgeir gannet population 2026 – available here.

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About the Scottish Seabird Centre The Scottish Seabird Centre is an award-winning marine conservation and education charity based in the coastal town of North Berwick, overlooking the Bass Rock gannet colony. They’ve been connecting people with this incredible seabird colony and the amazing wildlife that Scotland’s sea’s support for over 25 years. Their mission is to save seabirds and restore Scotland’s seas through conservation projects, learning programmes and unforgettable wildlife experiences. The Charity has led a range of high-profile conservation and education projects including the SOS Puffin initiative in the Firth of Forth.

Follow the Scottish Seabird Centre on Facebook/ScottishSeabirdCentre and Instagram/@seabirdcentre For more information on the Scottish Seabird Centre visit https://www.seabird.org/about-us