BREAKING: Anti-Guga Hunt Activists Chain Themselves to Roof of NatureScot HQ

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BREAKING: Anti-Guga Hunt Activists Chain Themselves to Roof of NatureScot HQ

They say they’ll stay there “for days if we have to.”

DEVON DOCHERTY

MAR 20

At 4am this morning in Inverness, two activists from campaign group Abolish the Guga Hunt scaled the HQ of NatureScot, chained themselves to the building, and dropped a banner reading: ABOLISH THE GUGA HUNT.

Jamie Moyes and Allan Jackson – dressed as Gannets – hauled themselves onto the highest ridge above the building’s glass roof before first light, protesting against NatureScot’s complicity in the killing of Gannet chicks on a remote Scottish island.

Alongside the banner, the pair placed a bloodied model of a baby Gannet – a stark symbol of the despicable practice they are demanding be brought to an end.

TELL NATURESCOT: END THE GUGA HUNT

What this is about

Every single year around August or September, 10 men from the Isle of Lewis travel to the remote island of Sula Sgeir to kill hundreds or thousands of Gannet seabird chicks (known as Guga) to eat as a local delicacy. The activity has been happening for centuries and while it once was linked to a survival need, is now done purely to maintain the tradition.

The chicks are not yet old enough to fly when they are snatched from their nests, beaten to death with a heavy rod, plucked, gutted and scorched over open flames.
This happens in full view of other chicks, nearby seabirds and the chick’s parents, who circle overhead and call out helplessly as their only chick is slaughtered.

This is not survival.

This is needless cruelty – and NatureScot allow it to happen.

The Guga hunt can only take place if NatureScot – Scotland’s official Nature agency – give out a licence for it. That licence is discretionary. They are not obliged to grant it. Yet they do, year after year, and claim that it’s all done “humanely.” It’s a disgrace.

SIGN THE PETITION

Sula Sgeir was designated as a Special Protection Area due to its internationally important population of breeding seabirds, including Gannets. In fact, Scotland is home to almost half of the world’s Northern Gannet population, making it one of the most important countries on Earth for the survival of this species.

Continuing to authorise the killing of Guga against this backdrop is totally and utterly indefensible. In a nation facing a biodiversity emergency, the overriding priority must be nature recovery, not the maintenance of an outdated cultural tradition that directly conflicts with that goal.


“We’re prepared to stay here for days if we have to.”

Speaking from the roof, Jamie and Allan said “We’re prepared to stay here for days if we have to.”

They said they are prepared to go to Sula Sgeir to stand between the hunters and the birds, and try to save the chicks. But this should never come to that. NatureScot can stop it now by doing the right thing and refusing this year’s licence.

How you can help 

We are so close to hitting 50,000 signatureson the petition to demand Naturescot brings an end to this abhorrent practice. Please add your name today and help save lives.

SIGN THE PETITION

© 2026 Protect the Wild
Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street
Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ 
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Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

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