Last Scottish island bird hunt banned after almost 500 years
A centuries-old annual bird chick hunt on a remote Scottish island, known as the Guga Hunt, has been banned this year, authorities said Monday, citing conservation concerns.
After nearly 500 years, the Guga Hunt, a centuries-old tradition on a remote Scottish island, has been banned due to conservation concerns. The annual event, organized by the "Men of Ness," involved a 64-kilometer journey to the uninhabited Sula Sgeir island to hunt up to 2,000 juvenile gannets. First documented in 1549, the hunt entailed capturing baby gannets using a pole, hitting them on the head, and salt them before returning to the Isle of Lewis.
NatureScot, Scotland's natural heritage agency, approved the ban, citing potential adverse impacts on the Sula Sgeir gannet population for 2026 based on the latest scientific evidence. The gannet population faced significant mortalities due to bird flu outbreaks from 2021 to 2023. The decision was welcomed by animal rights activists but met with disappointment from locals, such as John Malcolm, who viewed the practice as a sustainable tradition.
Traditionally, gannet chick meat was boiled and consumed with potatoes. Historically, wild bird meat served as a vital food source for impoverished communities in the harsh, remote environment. However, the ban took effect in 2026, pending the possibility of a reapplication for a license in the following year.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
