The trip to Sula Sgeir by men from Ness has been a tradition, an indigenous right, for centuries. Yes, NatureScot regulate licences and quotas for the hunt, but until a global pandemic among humans and more latterly the avian population, it has taken place consistently since World War II, sustaining a tradition to supply a delicacy to families within the community in a manner that balances the respect for conservation, not just of the Gannet population but also of the cultural tradition of the human population. And yet, this tradition is currently subject to much public debate, not because of the actions of any members of the community from which it originates, and not because of Avian Flu, but because of a proposed offshore windfarm development in the Outer Firth of Forth, in the North Sea.
A recent SSE report concerning the proposed Berwick Bank Wind Farm,[1] (https://www.berwickbank.com/) and the potential impact of the development on the Bass Rock Gannet colony population, has proposed that the ‘reduction of the annual Gannet Hunt’ (on Sula Sgeir) ‘has been identified as being the most feasible mechanism to compensate for potential losses of gannet,’ (page 6). The report then goes on to outline the feasibility of how this proposal will potentially be fulfilled. Identifying that: ‘The Applicant will actively engage with the Men of Ness to facilitate a negotiated agreement to reduce cull numbers and consider additional benefits that could be provided. Alternatively, the reduction in the gannet harvest can be implemented by NatureScot,’ and that ‘The gannet harvest is licensed by NatureScot and a reduction can be implemented legally via a negotiated agreement or licence reduction.’ The report then goes on to outline predicted population growth models for Gannet on Sula Sgeir, should the hunt quota be reduced. The figures quoted in this section are referenced as being based upon survival rate modelling completed by Horswill and Robinson (2015)[2]. The earliest records documenting cases of Avian Flu in the wild bird population of the UK start from the winter of 2016 /2017 on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avian-influenza-in-wild-birds
So, outwith the ‘assumptions of feasibility’ made within the SSE report, it would be interesting to analyse data from more recent population statistics and modelling, perhaps in alignment with the impact of Avian Flu on all of the gannet colonies, before making a proposal on the curtailment of a community’s cultural heritage.
NatureScot, is referred to throughout the SSE report, and in response to an approach from fios yesterday, they provided the following update:
‘NatureScot is currently preparing advice for the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate Licensing and Operations Team on the information provided by SSE in support of its application for the proposed Berwick Bank offshore windfarm. We are currently assessing the ecological feasibility of the proposed compensation measures for gannet, should consent for the windfarm be granted. Our advice will be provided to the Scottish Government by the end of this month.’ NatureScot have also updated their response (1640hrs 04/10/23) to include the following: ‘To be clear, the exemption which allows for the Guga Hunt to be licenced is included in legislation and therefore cannot be removed or reduced by NatureScot as compensation measures for a development.’
In addition to this and in response to a number of requests from constituents, Alasdair Allan, MSP has written to Màiri McAllan MSP, (Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition). Within this letter he outlines that it ‘comes as a surprise to the community in Ness to discover a large multinational attacking their cultural practice and proposing it as an offset to the negative impact on nature their development could bring. To be clear: the guga hunt is not theirs to trade away. As MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, I have no constituency interest in the outcome of the Berwick Bank Offshore Windfarm. However, I would be grateful for a categorical assurance that this will not impact the guga hunt and NatureScot’s etermination of the number of gannets that can be harvested.’
fios has recently been updated (4th October 2023 1120hrs) with a response from SSE Renewables as follows:
”We are not advocating any changes to the quota numbers for Sula Sgeir. As part of the extensive consenting process for Berwick Bank offshore wind farm we were asked to provide additional information on wider gannet population compensation measures. As the paper says, we provided this for information purposes and ‘without prejudice’. Separately, we have made the case that no measures are needed for the gannet population as a result of the Berwick Bank project.”
This weeks fios 640 will contain an up to date report on the situation.
[1] Berwick Bank Wind Farm, Additional Environmental Information (AEI) Submission AEI02: Addendum to the Derogation Case Section 2 Gannet Compensation (without prejudice).
[2] Horswill, C. & Robinson R. A. 2015. Review of seabird demographic rates and density dependence. JNCC Report No. 552. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough