UK dolphin and porpoise conservation strategy: technical report

Glossary

A guide to terms and acronyms used across the document

ASCOBANS

Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas.

Bioaccumulation

The accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism.

Bycatch

Incidental non-target species caught in commercial fishing gear.

Cetacean

Infra-order of marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises.

UK CSIP

UK Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme.

European Protected Species (EPS)

Species listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive, which requires protection measures in relation to incidental killing and capture (e.g. fisheries bycatch) and disturbance.

Favourable Conservation Status

This is the overarching aim of the Habitats Directive. The conservation status of a species is considered favourable when the population is maintaining itself on a long-term basis, the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced for the foreseeable future, and there is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain the populations on a long-term basis.

IWC

International Whaling Commission.

Marine protected area (MPA)

Area of sea protected by legislation.

MSFD

Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

OSPAR

The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic.

PCBs

Polychlorinated biphenyls.

PME

Post mortem Examination.

Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

A site designated under the EU Habitats Directive. Often abbreviated to SAC.

SMASS

Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme.

Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies

Body appointed by legislation to advise Governments on nature conservation issues.