Committee
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 11 March 2026 [Draft]
11 Mar 2026 · S6 · Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
Guga Hunt (PE2202)
That brings us to the final petition that we will consider in this parliamentary session—PE2202, on stopping the guga hunt. The petition, lodged by Rachel Bigsby, calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to amend section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to remove the power to grant licences for taking gannets on Sula Sgeir.We last considered the petition on 21 January, when we agreed to consider it as part of an upcoming work programme item on the committee's on-going work. Since the petition was last considered, we have received written submissions from the petitioner, Protect the Wild and an individual, Bonnie McKay, as well as three late submissions, which I was looking at earlier. I just want to read into the Official Report that the late submissions that we have received, and which colleagues have had an opportunity to consider, are from Murdo MacRitchie, Gen Cannibal and Iain Morrison.The petitioner’s written submission states that the most significant unresolved issue is that the hunt is unmonitored, as licences are granted on trust with no NatureScot staff or independent observers present to verify compliance with the licence conditions. The submission also states that the licence requirement to report sick or dead birds observed during the harvest relies entirely on self-reporting, and the petitioner believes that that presents a conflict of interest.The submission from Protect the Wild highlights that the hunt has an impact on other protected seabird species whose conservation status is already compromised, and it also states that the disturbance from the hunt is usually stressful and can lead to nest abandonment and chick mortality. Protect the Wild also believes that the continuation of the guga hunt risks undermining Scotland’s efforts to be globally recognised as a leader in conservation, biodiversity restoration and sustainable wildlife tourism.In her written submission, Bonnie McKay explains that she is a resident of the Isle of Lewis and writes in support of the petitioner. Her view is that, although the hunt was once a source of sustenance during times of hardship, that is no longer the case, and her submission states that it is reasonable and necessary to reassess the traditions in the light of modern conservation.Of course, not all of the other additional representations that we have received agree with those views. Again, representations have been made that very much highlight the long-standing cultural and heritage issues that the matter raises, and it is emphasised that no bird killed goes to waste and that every bird that is killed is consumed.The petition engaged the committee, I think, and we kept it open so that we could do a bit of further work and receive representations on it. I wonder whether it is something for our successor committee to consider, but I would just note for those who have an interest in the petition that this is the committee’s last scheduled meeting. We can do nothing further on the petition, and nothing further can be progressed until a new committee has considered how it wishes to take the issue forward, if we are minded to keep the petition open.Mr Golden, do you have any thoughts on what we might do?
In the same item of business
The Convener
Con
That brings us to the final petition that we will consider in this parliamentary session—PE2202, on stopping the guga hunt. The petition, lodged by Rachel Bi...
Maurice Golden
Con
I agree with your suggestion that the petition should remain open, convener. The key criterion here is that the committee has had only limited time to consid...
The Convener
Con
Are we agreed, colleagues?
David Torrance
SNP
I fully agree with the suggestion that has been made. This is an issue that the committee in the next session of Parliament should explore and hear from both...
The Convener
Con
Although it is very kind of you to give me a further opportunity to comment on NatureScot, Mr Torrance, I will resist the temptation on this occasion. I do n...
The Convener
Con
As that brings us to the conclusion of the public part of the meeting, I just want to say what an absolute pleasure and privilege it has been to be the conve...