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Ask NatureScot to Investigate Footage Showing Guga Hunters Disturbing Gannet Colony

Shocking new footage has emerged showing hunters frightening breeding seabirds and their chicks during the Guga hunt, scaring them off their nests and almost trampling chicks during a sack race. This is a clear breach of their licence condition to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the Gannets.

This comes just days before NatureScot decides whether to issue another licence to kill Gannets.

Join us in urging NatureScot to conduct an urgent investigation into this concerning potential licence breach and refuse the current licence application.

Your voice matters. If you use the tool below, please consider taking a moment to add your own words. Personal, individual messages carry far more weight and help show the strength of public concern.

If you’re having trouble using our email tool (for example if it’s not loading properly or you get an error message) you can still take action.

Simply copy and paste the message below, add your own words, and send it directly from your email to: colin.galbraith@nature.scot, jill.robbie@nature.scot, margaret.davidson@nature.scot, ian.gambles@nature.scot, jaboury.ghazoul@nature.scot, james.harrison@nature.scot, peter.higgins@nature.scot, david.johnstone@nature.scot, colin.macphail@nature.scot, wayne.powell@nature.scot, heather.reid@nature.scot, nikki.yoxall@nature.scot, complaints@nature.scot, nick.halfhide@nature.scot, robbie.kernahan@nature.scot

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Dear NatureScot,

I am writing to express my deep concern about the newly surfaced footage appearing to show Guga hunters causing significant and needless disturbance within the Sula Sgeir Gannet colony.

The footage appears to show hunters carelessly running through the middle of densely packed breeding seabirds while taking part in a game, causing Gannets to flush from their nests and display defensive behaviours. It also appears to show three participants taking part in a sack race while flightless Gannet chicks scatter from their path to avoid being trampled underfoot.

The impact of this sort of behaviour on breeding seabirds should not be underestimated - it could cause adults to abandon their nest and chicks to starve to death.

It is also a clear breach of NatureScot's licence condition requiring unnecessary disturbance to the Gannets to be avoided.

Further, it reinforces the concerns raised by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission, the Humane Slaughter Association and the Scottish SPCA about the welfare impacts of the Guga hunt.

With NatureScot's Board due to decide the 2026 Guga hunt licence shortly, I urge you to:

- Carry out a full investigation into the footage and the apparent breach of licence conditions.
- Publish the findings of your investigation and set out what enforcement action will be taken.
- DO NOT issue a licence while those investigations are ongoing.

As Scotland's nature agency, NatureScot has a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of wildlife protection. It would be irresponsible to grant a further licence while serious questions remain over compliance with previous licence conditions and the welfare of the Gannets those conditions were intended to protect.

I hope you will give this evidence the careful consideration it deserves.

Yours sincerely,

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Ask NatureScot to Investigate Footage Showing Guga Hunters Disturbing Gannet Colony

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