Activists dressed as seabirds stage rooftop protest in Inverness
Two men have scaled the NatureScot headquarters in protest against the controversial Guga Hunt, which sees young gannets slaughtered
Protestors dressed as gannets have scaled the NatureScot building in Inverness, in protest against a controversial hunt.
The annual guga hunt involves the hunting of young gannets, which takes place on a small uninhabited island around 40 nautical miles from the Isle of Lewis.
The license for it to take place is issued by Scottish Government body NatureScot.
Hunters argue the practise dates back to the 15th century and is part of their heritage.
Great Glen House is closed for the day, with emergency services on the scene.
Protest against "merciless slaughter" of baby gannets
One of the protestors on the roof, Jamie Moyes, said: "We have taken this action to increase public awareness of the plight of the poor baby gannets who reside on Sula Sgeir and are mercilessly slaughtered annually by the men of Ness due to the ridiculous licence that is issued by NatureScot.
"This licence circumvents the laws that protect these birds from every other human on the planet. The men of Ness say that this is part of their cultural heritage and should be preserved in the name of tradition, but we say that hiding behind such excuses should not be tolerated in 2026.
"There is no reason for this to continue."
Robbie Kernahan, NatureScot’s Director of Green Economy, said: "We are aware of the protestors at NatureScot's Great Glen House office.
"The building has been closed for the day for staff safety. This and previous vandalism incidents are mainly affecting our staff as they try to do their everyday jobs.
"There's also increasing cost to taxpayers for repairs and increased security. NatureScot continues to open to be conversation about our work. The actions of protesters today is not, unfortunately, open or fair discussion."
NatureScot "understands strong feelings" about hunt
On the guga hunt generally and NatureScot's role, a spokesperson added: "We understand there are strong feelings about the guga hunt, and that some people will disagree with it taking place.
"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. 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."
We've been told a license application for the hunt in 2026 has not yet been received.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We were made aware of two men on the roof of a building in the Leachkin Road area of Inverness on Friday morning, 20 March, 2026.
“Officers are in attendance.”