The pro-hunt lobby is back out in force to try and keep Gannet killing legal in Scotland. This time, Donald MacKinnon, Labour MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles), used First Minister’s Questions to defend the Guga hunt and seek reassurance from the head of the Scottish Government that this year’s licence rejection did not mean a permanent end to their cruel pastime.
John Swinney confirmed again that the Scottish Govt has no intention of amending the law, and gave the green light for the Guga hunters to apply for another licence next year. This, from a government that has repeatedly committed to halting biodiversity loss. A government that has published a dedicated Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan, to safeguard the future of struggling seabirds like Gannets. What a joke.
We’ve written to John Swinney
This morning we sent a letter to the First Minister expressing our disappointment at his response, including his failure to engage with the concerns of more than 115,000 signatories, and his total disregard for the serious animal welfare and conservation concerns the hunt raises. We have requested a meeting to put those concerns directly to him.
However, if there’s one positive thing we can take away from this, it’s that the Guga hunt is finally being discussed – not just within the Scottish Parliament – but at the highest levels of Scottish politics. We might not like what we’re hearing, but political silence would be far worse. Until very recently this issue was barely being talked about at all, and was almost certainly not on the First Minister’s radar. Our campaign has helped turn this issue into a national controversy.
Nothing changes while an issue remains invisible. Getting politicians talking about the Guga hunt is the first step towards getting them to act.
We need more MSPs speaking up for Gannets
Right now, the voices being heard most loudly in Parliament are those fighting to keep the hunt alive. It is essential that we change that.
We are working hard to find MSPs willing to represent the Gannets and the thousands of people calling for the Guga hunt to end. But MSPs need to hear from the people they represent too.
We’ve created an easy tool to help you email your MSPs and ask them to speak up on this issue and back a ban on the Guga hunt.
If you haven’t got much time, use the tool as-is. If you do, please take some time to personalise the email, consider sending them to your MSPs separately.
Please note, you must have a Scottish address to use this tool. If you don’t live in Scotland, please share this tool with someone you know who does. You can also sign Rachel Bigsby’s Parliamentary petition regardless of where you live.
If you do receive a reply from your MSP, pass it on to us at contact@protectthewild.org.uk so we can track what MSPs are saying and where they stand on the Guga hunt.
The political fight over the future of the Guga hunt has begun. Let’s make sure Gannets aren’t the ones who lose out.
Become a Gannet Guardian
This campaign is powered by Gannet Guardians: ordinary people who chip in a few pounds every month and make it possible for us to keep pushing for a permanent end to the hunt. We have a full-time campaigner working on this issue, and that’s a huge part of why we were able to stop the 2026 Guga hunt. Having someone working on this day in, day out really does make a difference. But we need more resources to power the next phase of this fight to have the hunt permanently outlawed.
So please, if you want to see this hunt ended forever and can spare a few pounds, become a Gannet Guardian today.