THE Scottish Government’s environment agency is set to block the centuries-old Western Isles “guga hunt” from going ahead, new documents suggest.
A report published on NatureScot’s website recommends against approving a licence for men from Ness, on Lewis, to continue their tradition of hunting young gannets on the isle of Sula Sgeir for 2026 .
The board of the government agency is due to meet to make a final decision on whether to approve the licence for the guga hunt – an annual event dating back to the 1400s – on August 3.
The hunt did not take place in 2022, 2023, or 2024 due to concerns about avian flu, but a licence was granted for 500 birds (rather than 2000) in 2025.
The new report compiled by the NatureScot Licensing Team and Marine Ornithology Team states that there are three options before the board: give a licence to hunt 2000 birds, a licence to hunt 500 birds, or no licence at all.
It ultimately recommends the third option, stating: “We have assessed the application as applied for (2000 birds) and an alternative scenario (500 birds). Neither are recommended.”
“Interpretation of the CPS [counterfactual population size] model outputs do not support a conclusion of no adverse impact on site integrity at the application bag limit (2000) or a reduced bag limit of 500.
“As per the Habitats Regulations, we must conclude that the Guga hunt will not adversely affect the integrity of the North Rona and Sula Sgeir SPA [Special Protection Area] before we can give consent for the activity (by granting a licence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act).
“In accordance with Regulation 48(5) these uncertainties mean that reasonable scientific doubt remains, and we cannot conclude that the activity will not adversely affect the integrity of the site.
“On the basis and rationale summarised above, the recommended option is to refuse the licence application this year.”
A NatureScot spokesperson stressed: "This is a recommendation only. The final decision will be made by our board."
They added: "To ensure our Board’s impartiality, we won’t make further comment until after August 3."
The recommendation has been celebrated by nature campaigners, who have been calling for the guga hunt to be blocked.
Robbie Marsland, the director of the League Against Cruel Sports Scotland, said: “This is great news for the gannets of Sula Sgeir and we welcome NatureScot's recommendation not to licence the hunt this year. But it’s a stay of execution, not a reprieve.
“The decision has been made on conservation grounds which means that once the population recovers, there’s every likelihood that the killing starts again.
“We’re calling on the Scottish Government to close the loophole that lets up to 2000 young birds on this tiny island be killed.
“This hunt belongs to another century. Understanding of animal welfare has changed and no animal should die like this for food in Scotland in the 21st century.”
Devon Docherty, Scottish campaigns manager at Protect the Wild said: “We are so relieved that 2000 young gannets will now get to spread their wings and fly instead of being beaten to death for an archaic tradition.
“The Guga hunters say they have the utmost respect for sustainability and always follow the science. Now the science is clearly saying this can’t go ahead. If they mean what they say, they should accept this and leave the gannets alone.
“The Scottish Government must now act to remove the outdated legal exemption that allows this hunt to continue being licensed in the first place so that Sula Sgeir’s gannets finally receive the full protections they deserve.”
This now deleted video shows a shocking disregard for the welfare of the Gannets. But then again, were the Guga hunters ever going to respect their victims? pic.twitter.com/efy8AQo9Z0
— Protect the Wild (@ProtectTheWild_) July 25, 2026
It comes after NatureScot said it was “taking action” following a video unearthed by Protect The Wild showed people taking part in a sack-race through the gannet breeding ground on Sula Sgeir .
Campaigners said the video showed that the licence conditions which oblige guga hunters to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the gannet colony had been breached.
A NatureScot spokesperson said: "We understand there are strong feelings about the guga hunt, and that some people will disagree with it taking place. The hunt is recognised in law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which makes specific provision for the granting of a licence for the purpose of providing food for human consumption in relation to the gannets on the island of Sula Sgeir. Our role is to make licensing decisions based on the most recent scientific evidence and the relevant legal frameworks.
"NatureScot has received a large number of emails for the attention of our board in relation to our licensing role. We thank those who have contacted us for highlighting their concerns clearly and constructively. However, given the volume of correspondence received we are unfortunately unable to respond individually."
