The hunting of baby gannets continues – what are we doing about it? (04-08-25)

This month, the Guga hunt of baby gannets will go ahead for the first time since 2021 on Sula Sgeir, north of Isle of Lewis. Up to 500 baby gannets are expected to be killed. 

Two gannets with their baby on a cliff.

10 men will travel to island Sula Sgeir, which is uninhabited by humans, to take the baby birds out of their nests using a pole and noose and will then crush their heads. The animals are then “prepared” and returned to be sold as a “delicacy”. It is inhumane and it is completely outdated. 

NatureScot, the governmental body that licensed the hunt, recognised its “cultural significance” while reaching its decision. 

What are we doing about it? 

Raising awareness in the media 

We have been raising awareness of the hunt in the media, with more than 40 media outlets featuring our comments criticising the cruelty of this activity. 

“Snatching wild baby birds from their nests and bashing their heads in, using the excuse of tradition, will appal and embarrass many people across Scotland.” - Jason Rose, OneKind CEO. 

Highlights included pieces from the BBC, STV News and the Daily Record. BBC is the most visited news website in the country, while STV is the largest advertising platform in Scotland. Daily Record is one of Scotland’s highest-circulating printed newspapers. 

We also wrote to Director of BBC Scotland, Hayley Valentine, to express our concern about the BBC’s light and jovial tone and treatment of the Sula Sgeir guga hunt issue, during its coverage by both BBC Radio Scotland and Reporting Scotland: News at Seven.  

Read our letter

Expressed our concerns to decision-makers  

“The Scottish Government and its nature agency have made a poor decision. Do they really think this kind of cruel and unnecessary activity is how anyone wants Scotland to be seen in the year 2025?" - Jason Rose, OneKind CEO. 

We wrote to both NatureScot and the Scottish Government, expressing our disappointment at their decision and a lack of clarity regarding whether any aspect of animal welfare was considered in its decision-making process. 

We urged them to put the current licence on hold while a review is undertaken how NatureScot might bring welfare and ethics into its considerations. 

Read letter to NatureScot

Read letter to Scottish Government


Mobilised our supporters to take action 
Female using laptop with small dog on lap.

We mobilised hundreds of our dedicated digital activists, OneKind’s Animal Advocates, to write to their MSPs and the Cabinet Secretary, expressing their disappointment in the decision to license the Guga Hunt and urging them to reconsider. 

Sign up to become a OneKind Animal Advocate 

How can you help? 

We’ve heard from many supporters, and those who discovered us through the media coverage of the Guga hunt, that feel compelled to take action. How brilliant it is to have such motivated individuals keen to get involved and help put an end to this cruel hunt. 

Write to your MSP and/or the Cabinet Secretary 

Please write to the Cabinet Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, to raise your concerns about the hunt and urge her to put the current licence on hold while a review is undertaken. If you are based in Scotland we’d ask that you also please write to your MSPs. You can find your MSPs' contact details here. 

Cabinet Secretary’s contact email address: [email protected] 

We would encourage you to personalise your emails as far as possible as this will be more impactful, but have included some bullet points below that may guide your email/letter. 

Points you may wish to include: 

  • You may begin by expressing your disappointment or disgust at the decision by NatureScot to license the killing of juvenile gannets on Sula Sgeir this month. 
  • The taking of these baby animals from their families using a pole and noose, then clubbing their heads, will cause fear, distress and suffering. 
  • The hunt dates from a time when taking seabirds as food was a necessity, but in our modern society this no longer stands. 
  • NatureScot noted it recognises the ‘cultural significance’ of the hunt, but this does not justify it. 
  • Urge the Cabinet Secretary to put the current licence on hold while a review into NatureScot’s decision has been taken. 
  • The revocation of Section16 (2)(a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which allows for gannets on Sula Sgeir to be killed 'for the purposes of providing food for human consumption' would enable the cessation, once and for all, of this archaic and cruel practice.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write to decision-makers and taking a stand against the killing of these baby gannets. Please do send us through any responses you receive to help guide our next actions. 

We can only help animals with your help 

It is only through the individual donations we receive from supporters that we can raise awareness of animal welfare issues in the media and lobby the decision-makers. So, please, if you are able to donate to our emergency appeal, we would greatly appreciate it. 

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