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 the case that new cetacean species and populations are being discovered which are then very quickly found to be threatened. For these reasons, taking a precautionary approach to policymaking is particularly important for marine mammal conservation. We also condemn the abuse of IWC guidelines whereby certain countries carry out de facto commercial operations under the guise of scientific research. While we acknowledge that the legal duty to have due regard in policymaking to the Environmental Principles Policy Statement, including the precautionary principle, does not come into force until 1 November 2023, Defra should prioritise marine mammal protection in the application of this principle when formulating relevant policy in advance of that date. Defra should also consider further research into disease in marine mammals. (Paragraph 18) Monitoring