UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment

1. Brief Summary

Type of proposal: Decision of a strategic nature relating to the rights and wellbeing of children

Name: UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy

Key Terms

• Cetacean: any member of an aquatic group of mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
• Conservation: preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment and/or wildlife.
• Bycatch: when unwanted fish and other marine creatures become trapped by commercial fishing nets during fishing for a different species.

The central vision of the UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy is to ensure the conservation and protection of cetaceans in UK waters. It will also contribute to the UK’s vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically diverse oceans and seas. However, current pressures and emerging threats such as bycatch, underwater noise and climate change are impacting these species in UK waters.

The Strategy sets out where action could be taken to address threats and pressures acting on species, and where further research is required to improve the current evidence base through the identification of high-level recommendations.

The Strategy is new, developed whilst taking into account views of multiple stakeholders, for example during its 2021 consultation and associated workshop events. The Strategy and its high-level recommendations have the potential to influence multiple sectors within the marine economy, including offshore wind, fisheries, and tourism. The UK has committed to the Strategy via the UK Marine Strategy part three: 2025 programme of measures.

Start date of proposal’s development: 05/09/2017

Start date of CRWIA process: 18/03/2025

2. With reference given to the requirements of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which aspects of the proposal are relevant to/impact upon children’s rights?

No aspects of the Strategy are relevant to, or impact upon, the rights of children and young people up to the age of 18. The Strategy focuses on cetacean conservation, with any Communities, Education and Outreach objectives focusing on industry engagement. This includes the training of wildlife operators, promoting regional codes of conduct among recreational groups and the tourism industry, and working with technical experts and fisheries experts to develop innovate gear types and reduce bycatch and entanglement. The Strategy’s vision of ensuring the conservation and protection of cetaceans in UK waters will not infringe on the rights and wellbeing of children.

3. Please provide a summary of the evidence gathered which will be used to inform your decision-making and the content of the proposal

Not applicable.

4. Further to the evidence described at ‘3’ have you identified any 'gaps' in evidence which may prevent determination of impact? If yes, please provide an explanation of how they will be addressed

Not applicable.

5. Analysis of Evidence

Not applicable.

6. What changes (if any) have been made to the proposal as a result of this assessment?

Not applicable.