The Guga Hunters of Ness

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The whole trip away from the island, catching the birds, camping on the beach thing is all good. But eating fermented seabird, really? I remain to be convinced that it'd taste good but I suppose I'd have to try it once.
 
Excellent link, thanks Seoras :cool:

It's an insight to a mostly forgotten harvest that helped support families for millenia.

atb,
M
 
An old Joke...

Guga is boiled and the rich, oily meat is traditionally eaten with potatoes and a glass of milk. An old joke goes: 'To best enjoy guga, boil it with a stone. Boil it until the stone is tender. And then eat the stone.'

Rob
 
Brilliant film. Shame they didn't show the nitty-gritty of the butchering. Gannets have been my favourite bird since I was a child, but I'd still support this annual hunt.
 
I thought it was a really interesting film. In terms of social anthropology, I can see that being shown in 20-30 years time as part of a series on how old traditions have died out in the islands of Scotland.

As the guy said, once the boat is knacked, it's highly likely that the tradition will die with it.

God, though - that salted guga looked minging. :yuck:
 
Watched it last night on the iPlayer.

Really enjoyed it, I love the glimpses into other peoples lives these type of programms give you.
And the accent makes me smile :)

Shame that the tradition will probably die out within those guys lifetime.

Cheers
Ness :)
 
I'm not convinced that this tradition is in a rush to die out. Even if the Heather Isle is decommissioned, I'd expect the community to come together and either buy her out, or find some other suitable transport out to Ness.

It all depends on the political will to keep the guga quota intact. As far as I can see, this film was positively received. I'm not sure what the tabloid press have been saying about it, because I don't read them.
 
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