£110,000 – the bill so far for guga protests

The figures have been provided in response to a Freedom of Information request and passed to the Gazette. They detail five incidents of “vandalism” between January and May.

These have led to £84,708 being allocated to “additional security” and an “on-site guard” following menacing activities by individuals involved in the campaign, at NatureScot’s headquarters in Inverness.

The information has emerged amidst growing concerns that the tactics are paying off and NatureScot is “moving the goalposts” in advance of its board making a decision on August 3rd about whether to licence the traditional expedition for this year.

In March, NatureScot said that “in view of the heightened profile of the harvest”, decisions on future licensing will be taken by its board. Recent developments suggest that NatureScot officials are steering the outcome towards refusal by introducing a new element into their assessment.

Officials advised the board that a Habitats Regulations Appraisal was now needed to determine whether the hunt “will impact the North Rona and Sula Sgeir Special Protection Area” which was designated in 1994. Their report now advises “that the hunt is likely to cause a significant effect on North Rona and Sula Sgeir SPA”.

According to the FoI response, NatureScot has had to spend over £12,000 on “signage, anti-climb paint, cage on ladder, upgrade to CCTV” as well as nearly £8000 on sourcing external legal advice in face of the objectors’ tactics.

The FoI response only details the costs to NatureScot, so the true bill to the taxpayer will be higher when it includes police time and other legal costs associated with alleged criminal acts.

In March, two leading activists, Jamie Moyes and Allan Jackson, spent 60 hours on the roof of the NatureScot headquarters. They were subsequently charged with breach of the peace and culpable and reckless conduct.

Ness resident Lorna Thomson, who made the FoI inquiry, said: “I wanted to understand the true impact that this nasty and abusive campaign and protest activity surrounding the guga hunt has had on the public purse. Like other people here, I was appalled by what it revealed and we believe the actions that have led to these costs are totally unacceptable.

“As someone from Ness, I'm also deeply concerned by the level of hostility directed towards our community by people from far away who have no understanding of our island or our customs. People have every right to oppose the guga hunt and to campaign peacefully, but there is a clear difference between criticising a practice and vilifying an entire community.”

Ms Thomson continued: “Over recent months we've seen abusive comments, stereotypes and prejudice aimed at local people simply because of where they come from or their association with a centuries-old tradition.

“No community should have to accept that. It's also concerning that this kind of behaviour is often encouraged or applauded online by others. Whether people support or oppose the hunt, we should all be able to agree that respectful debate is far more productive than intimidation or abuse.”

Agnes Rennie, chair of Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, the local community estate for the north of Lewis, said: “This new information sadly reflects the extent to which even NatureScot feels it necessary to guard against the threatening behaviour of this so-called campaign.

“It should not be a surprise that, as a community-owned land trust, we feel we should speak out in support of those families upholding a centuries old tradition which is an important part of the cultural heritage of the area.

“The indigenous rights associated with such a rich heritage, and the families who uphold them, should not be threatened in the manner we have seen over recent months.”

On Wednesday the guga protestors held another protest – this time at a biodiversity conference being held at the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh, simply on the basis that some Nature Scot staff were in attendance.