Petition calling for end to centuries-old guga hunt to stay open

MSPs have agreed that a petition sent to the Scottish Parliament calling for an end to the Western Isles' guga hunt should stay open for the next few weeks.

For hundreds of years, young gannets have been killed for their meat during the annual hunt on Sula Sgeir, a small rocky island 40 miles (64km) north of Ness on the Isle of Lewis.

Hunters argue the practice dates back to the 15th Century and is part of their heritage, but animal welfare campaigners say the hunt is unnecessary.

The petition has gathered more than 85,000 signatures - the most names of any petition in the current session of the parliament.

The petition was started by wildlife photographer Rachel Bigsby.

It calls for an end to licences for the hunt being granted by Scotland's nature body, NatureScot.

Holyrood's citizen participation and public petitions committee agreed that keeping it open would allow for further evidence on different views on the hunt to be gathered.

The committee will decide later whether it should be on a shortlist of petitions to be put forward for consideration by MSPs after next year's Scottish elections.

Animal welfare charity OneKind has welcomed the move.