'Let them eat guga': Politicians should have no say on banning islanders hunt |
A petition to ban the practice of hunting baby gannets may have gathered the most signatories at Holyrood but islanders should be allowed to carry on, argues Herald columnist Alan Simpson.
THE French have a penchant for eating virtually anything that flies, swims, runs, slithers or even hops and all in a fabulous sauce that only those trained in France can seem to perfect.
It is part of the charm of French cuisine and may traditional peasant dishes are still hugely popular in restaurants today.
When I was growing up, we regularly holidayed in France and we were encouraged, sometimes forcibly, to try all the weird and wonderful things on the menus.
I love French food to this day, which I believe to be vastly superior to any other in the world.
But one thing I would draw the line at, probably, is eating an ortolan.
These poor unfortunate small seabirds are force fed to fatten them before being roasted whole and drowned in Armagnac brandy.
They were quite the delicacy once until the population declined by a staggering 87% and are now protected under French law - and quite rightly too.
In an age where sustainability is increasingly important, small seabirds are worth being protected so they don’t the same way as the Dodo or the Auk.
The plight of the humble ortolan sprang to mind when protestors got themselves in a lather about the traditional guga hunt off the coast of Lewis.
For centuries, 10 Men of Ness have gone out yearly to kill the young gannets, not yet fledged, on the island of Sula Sgeir, and bring them home, gutted and salted.
MEP abandons attempt to halt annual Lewis guga cull
Animal rights group fails to stop annual guga hunt
Demand stays high as guga soars to £12
5 PLACES FOR . . .FRENCH CUISINE
They are then served up with potatoes and a glass of milk, so far, so wholesome.
But, campaigners believe........