Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Rejected
Launch new initiative with ring-fenced funding for marine mammal monitoring technology development
Recommendation
We believe investment in new technological solutions is the most effective way of upscaling marine mammal monitoring and filling the data gaps which currently hamper policy responses in this area. Among the most promising technologies are passive acoustic monitoring and the use of low-altitude satellites, while AI could also play a role. When asked about its commitment to technological solutions to marine mammal monitoring, the Government cited the £1.5m innovation competition with industry aimed at improving observation of biodiversity, under the Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA). However, the vast majority of the projects awarded funding under the first round of this initiative have little or no focus on marine mammals specifically, meaning this approach is completely inadequate in this context. We recommend that a new initiative should be launched specifically to encourage the development of new technological solutions to marine mammal monitoring, with ring-fenced funding that at least matches the existing £1.5m Marine NCEA innovation competition. (Paragraph 31) UK Policy and Legislative Framework
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation for a new initiative with ring-fenced funding for marine mammal monitoring technology, stating that significant investment is already in place through existing programmes like the £40m mNCEA. They outlined ongoing work in technology innovation and data collection, indicating a further fund is not considered necessary.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
There is already significant investment from the UK Government in technological solutions to marine mammal monitoring, including through Defra’s £40m marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) programme. The programme includes investment in technology innovation, improved data collection and monitoring outcomes. Relevant projects include those developing autonomous vessels to remotely collect visual and acoustic data, bespoke AI software to identify cetacean vocalisations, environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses to identify marine species, and digital aerial surveys to generate population estimates. Year 1 of the programme also completed a marine mammal evidence review to identify potential future monitoring methods. Defra will continue to explore opportunities for the development and application of innovation in marine mammal monitoring, including through the mNCEA programme; as such, we do not consider it necessary to establish a further fund. Defra has also taken action to ramp up existing marine mammal monitoring. For example, by increasing the frequency of Small Cetacean Abundance in European Waters and the North Sea (SCANS) surveys from 10 years to 6 years, expanding the scope of existing bycatch mitigation and monitoring work through Clean Catch 2 (due to commence Autumn 2023), and securing a 10-year contract for the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme (CSIP). Security and stability in funding for long-term programmes ensures these programmes can gather the evidence required to deliver on assessment and reporting needs and drive forward long-term progress. Monitoring innovation is also being developed through the Defra-funded Insight360 (i360) research consortium, which aims to streamline electronic monitoring of bycatch through AI and voice recognition. Defra are also consulting on proposals to expand the use of remote electronic monitoring (REM) in English waters. The data collected using REM could include monitoring of marine mammals, but it will not be limited to this.