Marine Mammals

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 21 Apr 2022 Closed: 8 Nov 2023 Parliament page
This inquiry will investigate the issues affecting marine mammals, in the UK and around the world, to better understand the role that Britain can play in protecting them. You can read the call for evidence for this inquiry here . Our call for evidence ended on 27 May 2022.
10 Recommendations
1 Conclusion
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
2 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
31 Oct
2023
Report published
28 Jun
2023
Report published
10 Jan
2023
Oral evidence
7 Dec
2022
Correspondence
16 Nov
2022
Correspondence
11 Oct
2022
Oral evidence
13 Sep
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
10 Jan 2023
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
James Smith · Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Lowri Griffiths · FCDO The Rt Hon. the Lord Benyon GCVO · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Rt Hon. the Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
11 Oct 2022
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Chris Butler Stroud · Whale and Dolphin Conservation Dr Carol Sparling · Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Lucy Babey · ORCA, cetacean conservation charity Mark Simmonds OBE · Ocean Care Professor David Lusseau · Technical University of Denmark Rob Deaville · UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP)
13 Sep 2022
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Chris Butler Stroud · Whale and Dolphin Conservation Dr Carol Sparling · Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Dr Mark Simmonds OBE · Ocean Care Lucy Babey · ORCA, cetacean conservation charity Professor David Lusseau · Technical University of Denmark Rob Deaville · UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP)
Recommendations & Conclusions
11 results
1 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Prioritise marine mammal protection using the precautionary principle and research marine mammal diseases.
Species-level assessments can sometimes mask profound issues with specific populations or communities of marine mammals; for example, it is thought that the last remaining coastal community of killer whales in the UK will disappear within our lifetimes. It is also … Read more
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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2 Conclusion
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Marine mammal monitoring capacity remains inadequate for effective policy responses
Monitoring of marine mammals is difficult and costly. However, without sufficient monitoring data it is not possible to tailor a properly informed policy response to the challenges these animals face. It is therefore vital not only that support for monitoring … Read more
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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3 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Launch new initiative with ring-fenced funding for marine mammal monitoring technology development
We believe investment in new technological solutions is the most effective way of upscaling marine mammal monitoring and filling the data gaps which currently hamper policy responses in this area. Among the most promising technologies are passive acoustic monitoring and … Read more
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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4 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Add seals to Wildlife and Countryside Act Schedule 5; close cetacean product transit loophole
The current UK legal framework around the protection of marine mammals is incoherent and not sufficient to effectively preserve these precious species. UK measures are in stark contrast to best practice exemplified internationally by the 1972 Protecting Marine Mammals in … Read more
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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5 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Bring in bespoke primary legislation for comprehensive marine mammal protection next Parliament
We further recommend that the Government should bring in bespoke primary legislation on marine mammal protection over the course of the next Parliament.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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6 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Publish Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy with SMART targets covering all 12 UK species
We are disappointed that, two years on from the consultation, there is still no final version of the Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy. We recommend that Defra works closely with the Scottish Government to ensure that SMART targets be included … Read more
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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7 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Publish ambitious timetable for HPMAs designation and outline monitoring strategy by end of 2023
We believe HPMAs are an important tool in marine mammal conservation which can play a key role in ensuring sustainable marine ecosystems. We support the rollout of the three HMPAs due to be formally designated by July 2023 and wish … Read more
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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8 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Introduce phased mandatory bycatch monitoring for vessels; publish action plan by December 2023
Current levels of bycatch monitoring are insufficient to gain an accurate picture of the numbers of marine mammals killed or injured in this way, despite the requirement for vessels to report marine mammal bycatch. While we heard suggestions that mandatory … Read more
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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9 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Produce UK-wide action plan with SMART targets to significantly reduce marine mammal bycatch
Accidental bycatch in fishing gear is the biggest single threat to marine mammals and has been described as “one of the grossest abuses of wild animal sensibility in the modern world”. While the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative and Clean Catch programmes … Read more
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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10 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Accelerate protected area management plans; raise marine mammal welfare with hunting nations in talks
We heard a number of examples of the UK being cited as a leader internationally when it comes to marine mammal welfare and conservation. Given that this is an issue which transcends national borders, it is vital that the UK … Read more
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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11 Recommendation
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine M…
Refuse new trade deals lacking specific marine mammal conservation commitments
We strongly support greater integration of environmental considerations including animal welfare in free trade agreements and feel much more can be done in this regard than at present. We are pleased to hear that there are ongoing discussions between the … Read more
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
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Correspondence 2 letters
7 Dec 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs regarding Marine Mammals, dated 25 November 2022
Parliament page
16 Nov 2022 To committee Letter from the Chair to Defra Minister, Lord Benyon, regarding Marine Mammals and COP 15
Parliament page