The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has published the UK Government’s response to its report, Protecting Marine Mammals in the UK and Abroad.

The report, published in June, recommended stronger measures to tackle the problem of bycatch by introducing mandatory bycatch monitoring and called on DEFRA to publish an action plan to achieve this, with targets and timelines, by the end of 2023. The Committee is therefore pleased to see that a consultation has taken place on extending remote electronic monitoring.

However, while the Government agrees with the Committee on the need to reduce bycatch, it rejects the call for a UK-wide, targets-driven action plan, stating that each fisheries policy authority should set its own time targets and that DEFRA will next year develop a plan specifically for England.

Photo: Ray Harrington

New legislation to improve protection of marine mammals in UK waters

In its report the Committee recommended that the Government introduce primary legislation to improve protection of marine mammals in UK waters, remarking that currently UK legislation and regulations are far below the standards provided by other countries. Responding to the EFRA Committee, the Government states that it does not plan to introduce primary legislation, citing that the legislation and international conventions currently in existence suffice.

The Government also rejects the Committee’s call to explore potential options to close the legal loophole on the transit of cetacean products through UK ports, on the grounds that these products only constitute a very small proportion of trade passing through the UK.

In its response, the Government agrees with the Committee in recognising the important role of marine mammals in marine ecosystems and global biodiversity and equally recognises the range of pressures these animals face, stating its commitment to protecting marine mammals. The response highlights the Government’s funding of research and development of technical solutions for marine mammal monitoring but rejects the Committee’s call for a dedicated ring-fenced fund to fill the significant data gaps we found currently exist.

Chair’s comment

Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, said: “We welcome the Government’s commitment to the protection of marine mammals. However, our committee urged new legislation, increased funding and faster action to mitigate the pressing challenges on these valuable species and we are disappointed to note that in rejecting our recommendations the Government does not appear to be demonstrating an awareness of the necessary urgency and scale of the problems.”

Read the full press release from the EFRA Committee here and the Government response report here.