The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has today
published the Government’s
responseto its report, Protecting Marine Mammals
in the UK and Abroad.
The report, published in June, recommended stronger measures to
tackle the problem of bycatch by introducing mandatory bycatch
monitoring and called on DEFRA to publish an action plan to
achieve this, with targets and timelines, by the end of 2023. We
are therefore pleased to see that a consultation has taken place
on extending remote electronic monitoring and will be taking a
keen interest in how this moves forward.
However, while the Government agrees with the Committee on the
need to reduce bycatch, it rejects the call for a UK-wide,
targets-driven action plan, stating that each fisheries policy
authority should set its own time targets and that DEFRA will
next year develop a plan specifically for England.
Data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) show that, globally, 34 of the 92 cetacean (marine mammal)
species fall into a threatened or near threatened category. Four
endangered species, the blue whale, sei whale, fin whale and
sperm whale, and one critically endangered species, the North
Atlantic right whale, can be found in UK waters. Among the most
prominent threats to marine mammals are bycatch and entanglement,
commercial and hunting practices, vessel strikes, climate change
and pollution.
In its report the Committee recommended that the Government
introduce primary legislation to improve protection of marine
mammals in UK waters, remarking that currently UK legislation and
regulations are far below the standards provided by other
countries. Responding to the EFRA Committee, the Government
states that it does not plan to introduce primary legislation,
citing that the legislation and international conventions
currently in existence suffice.
The Government also rejects the Committee’s call to explore
potential options to close the legal loophole on the transit of
cetacean products through UK ports, on the grounds that these
products only constitute a very small proportion of trade passing
through the UK.
In its response, the Government agrees with the Committee in
recognising the important role of marine mammals in marine
ecosystems and global biodiversity and equally recognises the
range of pressures these animals face, stating its commitment to
protecting marine mammals. The response highlights the
Government’s funding of research and development of technical
solutions for marine mammal monitoring but rejects the
Committee’s call for a dedicated ring-fenced fund to fill the
significant data gaps we found currently exist.
The Committee’s report recommended that any new UK trade deal
should include a clause on protecting marine mammals. The
Government has not accepted this recommendation but states that
it raises the issues of hunting of marine mammals in bilateral
talks with countries who still engage in hunting.
On the subject of the Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy,
led by the Scottish Government, the EFRA report urged DEFRA to
expedite this strategy and its actions. The Government’s response
affirms its commitment to the strategy but comments that time is
needed to consult and consider all the factors. This is despite
the draft strategy having been published in March 2021.
Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Committee, Sir , said:
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to the protection of
marine mammals. However, our committee urged new legislation,
increased funding and faster action to mitigate the pressing
challenges on these valuable species and we are disappointed to
note that in rejecting our recommendations the Government does
not appear to be demonstrating an awareness of the necessary
urgency and scale of the problems.”
ENDS
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