Internal Conflict over the Sula Sgeir Hunt
NatureScot has denied allegations that it discarded scientific evidence when it refused a permit for the annual guga hunt. This hunt involves the harvest of young gannet chicks on Sula Sgeir, an uninhabited island located 40 miles north of Ness on the Isle of Lewis. The agency rejected the application for 2026, marking a shift for a tradition that has persisted for centuries in the Hebridean community.
Western Isles MP Torcuil Crichton recently accessed documents through a Freedom of Information request. These documents indicate that internal advisers recommended the board grant a license for 500 birds. The advice explicitly stated that such a take would not adversely affect the site integrity of the North Rona and Sula Sgeir Special Protection Area, provided specific mitigation measures were followed. The board reached its refusal only two weeks after receiving this recommendation.
The Role of Scientific Modeling in Conservation
The dispute centers on the methodology used to assess the health of the gannet population. Supporters of the hunt argue that the traditional harvest is sustainable and part of the cultural fabric of the Ness community. Conversely, critics and some conservationists have raised concerns about bird flu outbreaks, which caused the cancellation of hunts in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In 2025, hunters took 485 birds.
Crichton has called for greater transparency regarding the board's decision-making process. While he acknowledges the agency acted within its legal bounds, he argues that the community deserves a clear explanation of how the board arrived at its final conclusion. He maintains that rebuilding trust between the Ness community and the agency requires an open discussion about the scientific modeling used to justify the ban.
Agency Response and Future Outlook
NatureScot maintains that its board evaluated a broad range of evidence before arriving at the decision. A spokesperson stated that while internal disagreements existed, these debates are standard for complex conservation issues. The agency denies that these debates signal a disregard for expert advice, asserting that the board acted in good faith and remained committed to its legal obligations regarding wildlife protection.
The agency also noted the cultural significance of the guga hunt but emphasized that they could not meet the legal tests required to issue the license this year. The controversy reflects the broader tension between long-standing traditional practices and contemporary wildlife management standards. As the community seeks a way forward, the path to resolving the dispute likely depends on whether NatureScot can align its scientific justifications with the local understanding of the hunt's impact on the ecosystem.