Two men charged after rooftop protest over guga hunt

Two men have been charged after staging a rooftop protest on NatureScot’s headquarters in Inverness over the Western Isles guga hunt.

Emergency services were called to Great Glen House on Leachkin Road at around 4.45pm on Sunday, where the pair had climbed onto the building.

The protest targeted NatureScot, the public body responsible for licensing the annual guga hunt on Sula Sgeir, a remote island around 40 miles north of Lewis.

The centuries-old practice involves the killing of young gannets, known locally as guga.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 4.45pm on Sunday, 22 March, 2026, two men, aged 58 and 45, were removed from the roof of a building in the Leachkin Road area of Inverness.

“They were subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the incident and released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date.”

In response to the incident, NatureScot confirmed the building had been closed as a precaution and raised concerns about the impact of protests on staff.

The two men are expected to appear in court at a later date.

Robbie Kernahan, NatureScot’s Director of Green Economy, said: “We are aware of protestors at NatureScot’s Great Glen House office. The building has been closed 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 be open to conversation about our work. The actions of protesters today are not, unfortunately, open or fair discussion.”

Debate around the guga hunt has intensified in recent years, with animal welfare campaigners calling for a ban, while supporters argue it is an important cultural tradition in the Western Isles.

NatureScot emphasised that the hunt operates within strict legal and scientific frameworks.

“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.”