Call to phase out ‘inhumane’ guga hunt by working with Hebridean islanders
Annual killing of infant gannets has been carried out on a remote Scottish island for at least 400 years
TL;DR
- Animal welfare groups OneKind and League Against Cruel Sports advocate for phasing out the guga hunt through dialogue with Hebridean islanders.
- They criticize aggressive campaign tactics by groups like Protect the Wild, which included protests and a political stunt.
- Islanders view the hunt as a cultural pursuit and sustainable food harvesting, not a cruel sport.
- Guga hunting is legally protected due to its historical roots and role in subsistence food gathering.
- Concerns are raised about the humane nature of the killing methods and potential impact on other seabirds.
- NatureScot is reviewing license applications and conducting population surveys for the gannets.