UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy: island communities impact assessment

2. Step Two – Gathering data and identifying stakeholders

2.1 Who are our stakeholders?

Stakeholders for the Strategy include government bodies, non-government organisations, community groups, academia, research institutes, industry and the general public.

Following publication of the Strategy, we will directly engage with our stakeholders to work through the high-level recommendations that identify where action can best be taken. This will help to deliver the vision, aims and objectives of the Strategy whilst identifying who is best placed to deliver this work. It will also allow for island-specific realities to be highlighted and assessed.

2.2 What data is currently available?

A workshop was held in April 2018 which provided the opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback on the development of the Strategy. The attendees were provided with a draft of the Strategy document, allowing them to review the objectives, the approach used to assess species vulnerability and the list of high-level recommendations and delivery plans.

Data gathered on assessing cetacean population vulnerabilities includes a detailed qualitative assessment undertaken by the Scottish Government in 2021. This assessed nine species of cetacean, using a combination of the best available scientific evidence from research and monitoring programmes and expert judgment. This assessment was designed to reflect and assess cetacean populations at a UK scale and does not include specific data on individual islands.

Specific analysis of data and information regarding pressures which impact island communities will be conducted as the Strategy’s high-level recommendations are taken forward and individual actions are established.

2.3 How does any existing data differ between islands?

Data methods used to inform the strategy does not differ across islands or the mainland – there are standard approaches. The Strategy has made a series of high-level recommendations that could, in future, focus on both islands and island communities. These include improving management of wildlife tourism and recreational activities, gaining a better understanding of the impact of marine litter and hazardous substances, and reducing and eliminating bycatch and entanglement of cetaceans in UK waters. However, these would be assessed for potential requirement for individual ICIAs upon being taken forward. Data gathered to inform the Strategy covers UK waters, which encompasses but are not exclusive to, island regions.