Freedom of Information Request - Guga Hunt
Date: 01 September 2025
Our ref: SIR181218/A5375418
Information Request – Guga Hunt
Your Request
• would it be possible to have a copy of the application for the guga hunt submitted by the Men of Ness?
• is it possible to know on which day the hunt will be permitted?
• Could I also be made aware of how you plan to monitor that no more than 500 birds will be killed?
• According to your scientific evidence, what is the humane way to kill these birds?
Our Response
We have discussed your request with our Licencing Team and responded to each of our questions.
Would it be possible to have a copy of the application for the guga hunt submitted by the Men of Ness?
A copy of the application is attached separately to this response.
We have removed all personal data from the information being released to you, as releasing this data in response to an information request, would breach the Data Protection Act 2018, so we have applied, under the EIRs, the exemption 11(2) (Personal Data) to this information.
We have also redacted out information relating to the date/timescales of when the proposed Guga hunt is due to take place, and information relating to the proposed vessel. Releasing this information into the public domain in response to this request, risks the individuals involved being identified and could lead to them being targeted and/or harassed and pose a risk to public safety. We are withholding this information under EIRs regulation 10(5)(a) (Public Safety)
Is it possible to know on which day the hunt will be permitted?
See above
Could I also be made aware of how you plan to monitor that no more than 500 birds will be killed?
There are conditions relating to this within the licence the main ones being:
Condition 12 (around notifying the Stornoway office),
Condition 13 (around handling of the gannets for the count).
Condition 2 (that they can take no more than the number listed in the project details (500)) and
Condition 15 where they must inform NatureScot as to how many gannets they took as part of their licence return.
Breaches of any of these conditions would be a breach of their licence and would be investigated by our Compliance Team and, if appropriate, the police
According to your scientific evidence, what is the humane way to kill these birds?
As these birds are being taken for human consumption, they must comply with all consumer and animal welfare laws.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
