UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy: consultation outcome report

Governments response and next steps

In this section we have set out the four governments response and next steps.

Support for implementation of the Strategy

Question 1: Do you support the implementation of the UK Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy?

We welcome the view of respondents, with the majority supporting implementation of the Strategy in UK waters. However, we recognise the view of some respondents that the focus of the Strategy should be wider than the requirement to maintain and achieve Good Environmental Status, and that the high-level recommendations should reflect this. In acknowledgement of this we have revised the vision, aim and objectives of the Strategy to focus on ensuring the conservation and protection of all cetaceans in UK waters, thereby contributing to the UK’s vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically diverse oceans and seas.

While several respondents welcomed the addition of the minke whale, they emphasised the need for the Strategy to go further and include all species that reside in UK waters. The basis for the original nine species of cetacean was that the Strategy should reflect those species most commonly recorded in UK waters, and which had similar characteristics and conservation needs. However, in response to the broadening of the vision, aim and objectives of the Strategy, the consultation responses and a review of existing data in relation to sightings in UK waters, five additional species (bottlenose dolphins were divided into two groups (coastal and offshore), striped dolphins, humpback whales, fin whales and sperm whales) and one species group (beaked whales) were added. While the Strategy has not included all species that occur in UK waters, it is likely that any actions taken forward would have wider benefits to other species and habitats. It is important to reflect that for some species there is still limited knowledge of their populations and vulnerability to pressures. A core component of the Strategy is therefore focused on the need for further research and monitoring to inform the development of any current and future recommendations. This will help to ensure that the Strategy reflects the balance between research and management action.

A few respondents raised concerns about the UK-wide nature of the Strategy and that it did not address the needs of specific regional or local issues. Although the Strategy and the associated technical report have been undertaken at a UK level, reflecting the mobile nature of these species, the four governments acknowledge that there are pressures that will act on specific species at a regional or local scale. Although the technical report provides detail on where there are some regional variations, we acknowledge the process of developing vulnerability assessments does not fully pull these out. The current process for assessing the vulnerability of species will be reviewed and adapted as required ahead of the next review of the Strategy. In the meantime, the new high-level recommendations have been amended to highlight the spatial context of each pressure. Further discussions will be required to refine those of relevance at a local level.

Evidence to inform the Strategy and recommendations

Question 2: Do you agree that the evidence presented supports the case for the Strategy?

Question 3: Do you have any comments on the vulnerability assessments and the conclusions reached?

Many of the respondents supported the evidence underpinning the Strategy and felt that it provided a strong basis for the identification of key pressures for focused action. However, a few respondents felt that the evidence in the vulnerability assessments was outdated, lacked key sources of evidence, and was not transparent in scoring, with assumptions made that were not supported by current evidence. Furthermore, a small number of respondents raised concerns regarding the link between evidence and the vulnerability assessments.

The four governments acknowledge that while there are areas for improvement, the vulnerability assessments represented the current evidence base at the time of drafting. However, following an analysis of responses to the consultation, a qualitative summary of the main pressures and threats acting on all the species in the Strategy was developed. This summary updates the original vulnerability assessments by including information on the five newly added species and species group, as well as new evidence on the original nine species. This process resulted in the identification of the main pressures acting on cetaceans in UK waters, where progress was underway to deliver action that was addressing these pressures, and where new or improved efforts were required (taking account of current or planned management). This led to the identification of six high-level recommendations.

However, acknowledging that pressures acting on cetaceans can change over time, and feedback from the consultation responses, we will review the process for assessing the vulnerability of species and adapt it as required ahead of the next review cycle. This will ensure that any action taken to manage pressures is adaptive and informed by the best available evidence and expert opinion.

A few respondents noted that the UK-wide scoring used in the vulnerability assessments did not reflect regional variations. While cetaceans are vulnerable to pressures at local or regional scales, cetaceans are highly mobile species supporting the justification for carrying out the vulnerability assessments at a UK level. However, the assessments highlighted regional variations in pressures where evidence supported this, which were carried through to the high-level recommendations. Following publication of the Strategy, we will engage with stakeholders to work through the high-level recommendations and areas for action to identify where action can best be taken to deliver the Strategy’s vision, aim and objectives and who is best placed to deliver this work, with an awareness of country/ regional-specific issues.

Climate change presents a threat to biodiversity and action is being taken globally and nationally to tackle this. While we acknowledge the views of some respondents that more consideration needs to be given to climate change in the Strategy, it is important that the Strategy does not duplicate the vast body of work being undertaken, but instead focuses on identifying where action can be taken to build resilience in cetacean species. We will therefore integrate consideration of climate change into the development of practical solutions to the impact of pressures.

Recommendations and areas for actions

Question 4: Do you have any comments on the actions that have been identified in the Strategy?

Several of the respondents were encouraged by the spread of actions identified in the Strategy. However, some respondents were concerned that the actions were not strong or ambitious enough, were vague in their direction, and that while research was important, more emphasis should be focused on management action to deliver solutions.

We recognise that the Strategy was originally drafted at a time when there was a focus on the development of working groups to bring together interested parties to determine what future action should be. However, in considering the views of respondents and subsequent engagement with stakeholders, the Strategy has been revised to identify six high-level recommendations which address specific pressures acting on cetaceans in UK waters. Within each recommendation is a list of work already underway together with a list of potential further actions that could be taken to address the pressures. These potential actions have been developed by the Strategy Working Group using a combination of evidence and expert judgement. This process has resulted in more ambitious and focused recommendations, with greater consistency in the level of detail within and between the recommendations. This approach has also ensured a greater degree of balance between research and management action, although with an appreciation that for some species there is still limited knowledge of their populations and vulnerability to pressures. Further research and monitoring are therefore critical to inform the development of any future recommendations.

The Strategy acknowledges that efforts to ensure the protection and conservation of cetaceans in UK waters and to meet the Strategy’s vision, is not for governments alone. Instead, it requires the coordinated effort of many stakeholders, including government bodies, non-governmental organisations, community groups, research institutes, industry and the general public. Encouragingly, there are many examples of strong partnerships already working across public, private, and charitable bodies that serve as a model for implementation of the Strategy. Following publication of the Strategy, we will engage with our stakeholder communities to work through the high-level recommendations and potential areas for action to identify where action can best be taken to deliver the Strategy’s vision, aim and objectives, and who is best placed to deliver this work. We see this as a collaborative approach to addressing the key issues identified within the Strategy.

We acknowledge the views of respondents that sufficient funding needs to be put in place to deliver the Strategy’s vision. There are funding sources available through application that may be able to support the actions set out in the high-level recommendations.

Accessibility

Question 6: Do you have any comments on the accessibility of the information in the documents?

Some respondents felt that to appeal to the general public headline information would benefit from being displayed in infographics. We acknowledge that the Strategy and associated documents can be difficult to navigate. The Strategy has therefore been amended and shortened to make it more accessible to a wide range of interests, with the technical report now including a qualitative summary. Furthermore, as we move forward, we will be developing a series of species accounts which will include infographics and details of the highest risk pressures to each species/species group.

We recognise the views of some respondents that found it difficult to navigate Citizen Space to find the relevant documents. This has been fed back to the relevant team as it is important to us that all information on the Strategy is available and accessible.

Conclusions

Following consideration of responses and representations received, the Strategy has been amended to include five additional species and one species group. A qualitative summary has been added which updates evidence on the original nine species as well as information on the newly added species and species group. We have also developed six high-level recommendations that cover the main pressures acting on cetaceans in UK waters and where action can be taken. Governments cannot deliver this alone, therefore collaboration and partnership working across a range of stakeholders is at the core of the Strategy and required to meet the Strategy’s vision.

Next steps

Following publication, we will work with stakeholders to identify where action can best be taken to deliver the Strategy’s vision, aim and objectives and who is best placed to deliver the action.