Select committee: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 3
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine Mammals in the UK and Abroad
Published 28 Jun 2023
Paragraph 31
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)
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.
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Sixth Report - Protecting Marine Mammals in the UK and Abroad (HC 697), paragraph 31, 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.