Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Sixth Report - Protecting Marine Mammals in the UK and Abroad
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 697
Published 28 June 2023
Recommendations
6
Deferred
Para 40
Publish Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy with SMART targets covering all 12 UK species
Recommendation
We are disappointed that, two years on from the consultation, there is still no final version of the Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy. We recommend that Defra works closely with the Scottish Government to ensure that SMART targets be included …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the recommendation for a Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy but stated that sufficient time is needed to fully consider specific targets and species. They hope to publish the strategy in 2024, deferring the committee's specific requests for SMART targets, expanded coverage, and a January 2024 publication deadline.
7
Deferred
Publish ambitious timetable for HPMAs designation and outline monitoring strategy by end of 2023
Recommendation
We believe HPMAs are an important tool in marine mammal conservation which can play a key role in ensuring sustainable marine ecosystems. We support the rollout of the three HMPAs due to be formally designated by July 2023 and wish …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the commitment to considering further Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) and initiating baseline surveys. While an existing compliance strategy is in place, a tailored HPMA enforcement strategy will be developed by spring 2024, deferring the committee's requested end-of-2023 timeline for the strategy and not providing an ambitious timetable for designation.
8
Deferred
Para 47
Introduce phased mandatory bycatch monitoring for vessels; publish action plan by December 2023
Recommendation
Current levels of bycatch monitoring are insufficient to gain an accurate picture of the numbers of marine mammals killed or injured in this way, despite the requirement for vessels to report marine mammal bycatch. While we heard suggestions that mandatory …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the potential benefits of mandatory bycatch monitoring and notes it has recently consulted on remote electronic monitoring. It is currently considering the responses to this consultation and will respond formally in due course, thus deferring any commitment to the recommended action plan or implementation.