Select committee: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 1
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine Mammals in the UK and Abroad
Published 28 Jun 2023
Paragraph 18
Addressed to Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Marine Mammals All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
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.
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Sixth Report - Protecting Marine Mammals in the UK and Abroad (HC 697), paragraph 18, 28 June 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 31 October 2023 (deadline 28 August 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government agrees with the Committee on the importance of the precautionary principle and the role of marine mammals, but disagrees with some recommendations, including a UK-wide bycatch action plan with targets and a free trade agreement commitment on marine mammal conservation.
- On bycatch, it disagrees with producing an action plan with UK-wide targets, as each fisheries policy authority will set time-bound targets "where appropriate". It will develop an England-specific work plan in 2024.
- On monitoring, it points to existing investment, including Defra's £40m mNCEA programme, and does not consider it "necessary to establish a further fund". It is considering responses to its remote electronic monitoring consultation and will respond "in due course".
- On the Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy, it acknowledges the recommendation but says "sufficient time is required", and it "hope[s] to publish in 2024". It does not expect to introduce bespoke primary legislation on marine mammals.
- On protected areas, it welcomes the suggestion but does not agree to the proposed timeline, aiming to implement management measures, "where necessary", by the end of 2024. It disagrees with a specific marine mammal conservation commitment in free trade agreements.