The island is a popular release spot for UK enthusiasts, but the sport was grounded in April after aviation safety concerns.
Now Guernsey Ports and the Royal Pigeon Racing Association have agreed a new set of safety procedures, which will allow the sport to restart.
Guernsey Ports’ airport director Richard Thomasson said it had worked closely with the RPRA to reach a practical solution that upholds aviation safety, while enabling the resumption of larger-scale pigeon racing.
‘The newly-agreed safety measures include enhanced planning and the introduction of a new permit scheme coordinated by the RPRA,’ he said.
‘The safety measures also include greater coordination and oversight of race timings to avoid conflicts with air traffic, and real-time communication protocols between race organisers and air traffic control. These steps should ensure the safe integration of larger scale pigeon racing activities with the island’s air space.’
The agreement also has the support of the Office of the Director of Civil Aviation (Channel Islands).
Under the new scheme, organisers of large-scale pigeon releases will have to submit revised risk assessments and operational procedures.
The existing protocols for smaller, local releases remain the same.
RPRA chief executive Chris Sutton welcomed the news.
‘This agreement reflects a collaborative effort to ensure that all necessary protocols and safety measures are in place, allowing the continuation of this valued tradition under carefully controlled conditions,’ he said.
He said the risk assessment had now been carried out, which meant that organisations would now need to apply to the RPRA for a permit. That would be issued with a permit number, which was shared with air traffic control, ports and the on-site agent. It was also required to book ferry travel to the island.
‘Everything is done by the permit number,’ he said.
‘It will allow us to monitor the situation through to release.’
Pigeon racing normally takes place from April to September, with more experienced birds earlier in the season, while young birds being trained up are raced later in the season.
‘Guernsey is considered a long-distance race,’ he said.
‘So there could be some young bird releases in September. But there may also be older bird releases in July and August.’
There has been an increase in large releases in recent years, with three in 2022, 17 in 2023, 29 in 2024, and 13 in the first four months of 2025.
This led Guernsey Ports to request more detailed risk assessments and procedures from the race organisers, which meant racing pigeons could not be released en masse within eight miles of the airport – something that is impossible to avoid in Guernsey.
The Guernsey Racing Pigeon Club did not wish to comment on the changes.
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