Authorities in Scotland have suspended the annual bird chick hunt on the remote island of Sula Sgeir this year, ending a tradition that has persisted for nearly 500 years due to concerns over the conservation status of the local gannet population.

The so-called Guga Hunt, conducted by the Men of Ness hunting group, involves the harvesting of juvenile gannets, a practice first documented in 1549. Each year, hunters undertake a challenging 64-kilometer sea journey from the Isle of Lewis to the uninhabited island off Scotland’s northwest coast. During the hunt, the hunters collect baby gannets using a specialized pole, then dispatch and salt the birds before returning to the mainland.

This year, NatureScot, Scotland’s natural heritage agency, denied the group’s request for a licence to take up to 2,000 juvenile gannets. The decision was informed by recent scientific assessments indicating a potential adverse impact on the Sula Sgeir gannet population through 2026. NatureScot highlighted that the gannet colonies had been severely affected by a series of mass mortalities associated with avian influenza outbreaks between 2021 and 2023. Hunters will be allowed to apply for a licence again in 2027.

The agency also acknowledged substantial opposition to the hunt from animal rights advocates, who have campaigned against the practice for years, citing animal welfare and conservation concerns.

Local reaction to the ban has been mixed, with some residents expressing regret over the loss of what they consider a sustainable cultural heritage. John Malcolm, a 46-year-old local, described the ban as “inevitable” but regretted the decision, emphasizing that the Guga Hunt had been practiced for centuries without depleting the bird population. Historically, the meat of the young gannets—known locally as "guga"—is boiled for extended periods and served with potatoes, reflecting its significance as a traditional food source in the harsh and remote environment of the Scottish isles. In the past, other cliff-nesting birds and their eggs were also harvested to support local communities.

The suspension of the hunt marks a significant shift in balancing long-standing cultural practices with evolving conservation priorities aimed at protecting vulnerable wildlife populations.