The MP for the Western Isles has slammed "attention-seeking" behaviour by protesters against the Guga Harvest and backed the Men of Ness in their bid to preserve a centuries-old tradition.

The guga hunt – a traditional, highly regulated annual harvest of young Northern Gannets (known locally as "guga") – takes place on the remote, uninhabited rocky island of Sula Sgeir, 40 miles north of Lewis.

Dating to the 15th century, the hunt is carried out by ten local men known as the Men of Ness. While once essential for winter survival, the hunt is now a deeply rooted cultural tradition.

However the harvest is facing mounting modern scrutiny from animal rights and conservation group such as Protect the Wild, OneKind and the League Against Cruel Sports who strongly oppose the practice. They argue that dragging flightless chicks from nests is inhumane, causes immense distress to the colony, and threatens seabirds already suffering from disease and climate change. Public petitions submitted to the Scottish Parliament continue to demand a permanent ban on the practice.

The claims of the protesters are, however, strongly refuted by the Men of Ness and their supporters. See our article on petrel claims here.

But now, MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Torquil Crichton, has seen enough and taken a stance on the issue, delivering a scathing attack on the anti-protest movement and its actions.

“Until now I have hesitated to comment on what its own organisers pronounce as the campaign to “Abolish the Goo-ga Hunt”. It struck me as another one of these boring examples of attention-seeking behaviour, enabled by social media and fuelled by a lack of real purpose in life.

“The “Goo-ga” campaign does fall into the virtue-signalling camp of activism and to prove their commitment someone undertook a sweat-drenched election campaign in a penguin suit (he didn’t look anything like a gannet) and was willing to put others at risk by climbing onto the roof of a public building. I am sure the activists involved saw these as selfless endeavours.

“But if the attendant publicity is having the slightest effect on the scientific considerations of NatureScot then it is time to speak out. The science is clear that the bird population levels on Sula Sgeir can easily accommodate the Ness harvest.

Scotland’s Nature Agency, NatureScot, in its statement on the issue last month (26 May) acknowledged strong feelings about the guga hunt, and that some people will disagree with it taking place.

NatureScot also revealed it had a number of emails for the attention of its Board in relation to its licensing role and that the Chair was being guided by its licencing team in considering them while board-level discussions would also be guided by its licencing team.

The statement also outlined its stance and considerations around licencing, It read: “The hunt is recognised in law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which makes specific provision for the granting of a licence for the purpose of providing food for human consumption in relation to the gannets on the island of Sula Sgeir. Our role is to make licensing decisions based on the most recent scientific evidence, the agency wrote.

“In 2025, we received our first licence application from the Men of Ness since 2021. After reviewing the survey data, collected in 2024 following bird flu outbreaks, we reduced the maximum number of birds that can be taken from 2,000 to 500 and a licence was granted on the condition that all birds must be killed humanely. This ensures the gannet population on Sula Sgeir remains stable for the future. The 2025 licence has now expired.

"A licence application for 2026 has been received. We will assess it as required by the relevant legal frameworks and using the most recent scientific evidence."

However, Mr Crichton believes that the guga harvest is an essential part of island life and history and should continue unhindered while expressing his objection to those with “a saviour-complex” telling islanders what was good for them.

“The guga harvest is an essential part of the history, culture and identity of Ness. It is conducted with due reverence to sustainability and importantly to what it means to the continuation of the living tradition of the islands. 

"This egotistical campaign is at the extreme end of the kind of green neo-colonialism we last saw with the attempt to impose Highly Protected Marine Areas to close down the seas around the Hebrides.

"The human population of these islands have lived in harmony with the environment for centuries. We don’t need campaigners with a saviour-complex to tell us what is good for us.”, he added.