Freedom of Information Request - Guga Hunt Sula Sgeir
Date: 20 October 2025
Our ref: SIR181842/A5528365
Information Request – Guga Hunt Sula Sgeir
Your Request
Can you tell me how many chicks were killed & how much was each of the killed chicks sold for? In addition, who or what organisation got the money from the sale of the chicks? Was it the so called Men of Ness? I've read £35 per chick via OneKind but I'd like confirmation.
As public money largely funds Nature Scot, I assume the Scottish Government (SNP) has data on the killing & selling & any income tax due etc.
Our Response
We have discussed your request with our Licensing Team, and we can provide you with the following information.
1. Numbers of chicks killed
As per the licence conditions a member of NatureScot staff from the local area office undertakes a count of the birds, to ensure the bag limit has not been breached; their count was 485.
While the formal return was received from the licence holder after the date of your request, this return confirmed 485 birds were killed by the licence holder
2. How much was each of the killed chicks sold for?
NatureScot are not involved in the commercial sale of the guga meat.
3. Who or what organisation got the money from the sale of the chicks? Was it the so-called Men of Ness? I've read £35 per chick via OneKind but I'd like confirmation?
As indicated at point 2 NatureScot are not involved in the commercial sale of the guga meat.
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
