FROM PROTECT THE WILD—GUGA IS ON THE MENU STILL AFTER SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT WON’T TAKE IT OFF

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Scottish Government REFUSES to Ban Guga Hunt Here’s what happens next. DEVON DOCHERTY SEP 6 READ IN APP Last month, the campaign to end the Guga hunt achieved a truly momentous milestone: NatureScot rejected the 2026 Guga hunt licence, saving the lives of 2000 Gannets who call the island of Sula Sgeir their home. Some of those chicks will just be beginning to fledge the nest and take their first flights out over the ocean as I write this email - a lovely thought, and one that makes everything we fought for over the past year feel so incredibly worthwhile. But along with that wonderful news, I’ve got some bad news as well. NatureScot’s rejection only protects the Gannets for one year. While the hunt is still allowed in law, it could still be licensed in future years, and the Scottish Government just confirmed they do not intend to outlaw the Guga hunt. This is despite almost 6000 of you emailing the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs directly to ask making ending the Guga hunt a priority in the new Government’s upcoming programme of work. It’s also despite NatureScot’s latest scientific data showing that the Guga hunt is no longer sustainable and could hold back the recovery of Gannets for decades, on top of a coalition of animal welfare authorities concluding that the Guga hunt is not humane. Take action There is so much urgent evidence pointing to the need for the Guga hunt to be outlawed for good. That’s why it’s so shocking that we just received a response from Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture, Marine, and the Islands saying the Govt is not going to ban it, and repeating the same stock statement they’ve been giving for almost a year. But there was something else in their response that really stood out to us. The Government acknowledges the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s conclusion that there is no humane method of killing the Gannets that would be possible on Sula Sgeir. That conclusion followed advice from the Humane Slaughter Association, while the Scottish SPCA has also strongly opposed the hunt on welfare grounds. Yet in the very next paragraph, we’re told that NatureScot sought advice from the hunters themselves, legal advisers and unnamed “specialist, external advisors”, before concluding that the proposed method of killing the chicks would not constitute an offence under animal welfare law. That raises some pretty big questions. Who were these external advisors? What advice did they give? What evidence was used to reach that conclusion? And, does it really take someone committing a criminal offence before we recognise that the suffering being inflicted on these birds is unacceptable? We’re going to be digging into that, so expect to hear more from us soon. It is good to see, however, the Government recognising the growing number of animal welfare organisations calling for a complete ban on the Guga hunt. This is no longer some niche campaign demand they can easily dismiss - the call for a ban is growing, and they know it. Our job now is to make that call louder, bring more organisations, MSPs and members of the public behind it, and build the political pressure until refusing to change the law is no longer a comfortable position for the Scottish Govt to hold. Guga hunt petition will be discussed next week Regardless of the Scottish Government’s pitiful refusal to act, there are still other routes to secure change. The Scottish Parliament petition to ban the Guga hunt is due to be discussed by the Petitions Committee on Thursday next week, putting this issue back in front of MSPs for the first time since the election. The petition - started by wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby - was temporarily paused in March while a new Parliament was elected. But it’s now back open for signatures and currently sitting at 107,031. How high can we get that number before Thursday? SIGN THE PETITION The petition is coming back to a newly formed Committee, with fresh MSPs around the table and a fresh chance to move it forward. A huge surge in signatures before the meeting would send a powerful message: the public demand for this hunt to end has never been stronger. And remember: once this petition is eventually closed, you won’t be able to add your name. So while we still can, let’s make PE2202 the biggest petition the Scottish Parliament has ever seen - sign and share it today. Keep this campaign going - Become a Gannet Guardian The Scottish Government’s refusal to act is deeply frustrating, but I can promise you one thing: We will not take no for an answer. We will give this fight all we’ve got, for however long it takes, until this cruel hunt is history. But to do that, we need you fighting alongside us. SUPPORT US Become a Gannet Guardian by giving just a few pounds a month to help keep this campaign going until the Guga hunt is gone for good. As a thank you, we’ll send you your own mini Gannet as a reminder of the birds you’re helping to protect. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing