Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Marine Mammals

Status: Closed Opened: 21 Apr 2022 Closed: 8 Nov 2023 10 recommendations 1 conclusion 1 report

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.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine Mammals in the UK and Abro… HC 697 28 Jun 2023 11 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
1 Recommendation Sixth Report - Protecting Marine Mammal… Acknowledged

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 the case that new cetacean species and populations are being …

Government response. The government agreed with the importance of applying the precautionary principle and prioritising marine mammal protection, noting that policymakers will consider its application ahead of the legal duty coming into force. However, the response did not address the recommendation for …

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
10 Jan 2023 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 View ↗
11 Oct 2022 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) View ↗
13 Sep 2022 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) View ↗

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
7 Dec 2022 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Biosecurity, Marine and Rural Affairs regarding Ma…
16 Nov 2022 To cttee Letter from the Chair to Defra Minister, Lord Benyon, regarding Marine Mammals…