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 the UK and Abroad 29 US Marine Mammal Protection Act, and, as ministers conceded to us in evidence, there are concerning loopholes that harm marine species. We strongly endorse the JNCC’s recommendation that seals be added to the list of species in Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act to protect them from reckless disturbance, and wish to see this implemented as soon as practicable. We also recommend that Defra should work with stakeholders and their legal advisers to explore ways to close the loophole which currently allows the transit of cetacean products through UK ports. We call for an assessment by the Department of options and their feasibility, in a supplementary response to this Report, by December 2023.