Freedom of Information Request - Men of Ness application for Guga hunt on Soula Sgeir
Date: 12 August 2025
Our ref: SIR181026/A5316334
Information Request – Men of Ness application for Guga hunt on Soula Sgeir
Your Request & our Response
1. Full details of the application and those who made it?
The licence application and licence issued are included in the information which is provided separately to this response.
2. Full details of your decision and the reasons for granting the licence?
Comments were sought from NatureScot’s Marine Ornithology, and local Area Teams. The Licensing Officer assessed the application based on the comments received, and by assessing the application against the three licensing tests as detailed in the statement of reasons.
This licence was also referred to the Licensing Manager, the Head of Wildlife Management and Scottish Government.
3. Advice regarding Appeal against your decision?
There is no formal appeal process. If an applicant disagrees with the NatureScot assessment, they can submit a new application to address the relevant points identified in the refusal letter and provide further supporting information. If someone other than the applicant disagrees with the NatureScot assessment they can either contact NatureScot through our complaint’s procedure, or, if the matter relates specifically to the legislation, they should speak with their local MSP.
4. Your Complaints Procedure?
Please refer to our complaint’s procedure.
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 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)
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
Online appeal service
FOI Website
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).
