Publication - Strategy/plan
UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy: technical report
This publication describes the process undertaken to assess the vulnerability of the cetacean species covered in the UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy to the key pressures acting on cetaceans in UK waters.
Section 4 - Existing management
8. This section identifies the existing legislation, measures and monitoring of the pressures and activities which are identified in the species vulnerability assessments. It provides an assessment of effectiveness by species by using the following scoring system:
- 1 = current measures considered adequate/no measures required;
- 2 = further research required;
- 3 = additional/new wider measures to be considered for medium vulnerability;
- 4 = additional/new wider measures to be considered for high vulnerability.
9. In some circumstances there are combined scores which can be explained as follows:
- 1 / 2 = both descriptions for 1 and 2 apply. This combination arises where the existing evidence is contrary to the vulnerability score or where there is no evidence of impact but there is known, although limited, overlap of species and pressure. Both may elicit further research.
- 2 / 3 or 2 / 4 = further research is required to determine if measures are necessary.
10. Table 3 summarises the management measures and monitoring programmes that are already in place.
Table 3: Existing management measures and nature of further measures to be considered
Recommendations are based on the assessment of the species vulnerability and confidence (Table 5).
| Pressure | Activity | Key Legislation & Existing Measures | Harbour porpoise | Common dolphin | Atlantic white-sided dolphin | White-beaked dolphin | Bottlenose dolphin | Coastal bottlenose dolphin | Risso’s dolphin | Long-finned pilot whale | Killer whale | Minke whale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Removal of non-target species (i.e. bycatch or entanglement) | Creeling and potting | Deck cards distributed through Scottish Entanglement Alliance (Best practice for setting and in the event of an entanglement). | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1 | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| Drift net fishing | (EU) 2019/1241 Technical Conservation Measures Regulation[2] Monitoring on ≥15m UK Article 12 EU Habitats Directive and transposed UK legislation ASCOBANS OSPAR | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Trawling and purse seining | (EU) 2019/1241 Technical Conservation Measures Regulation Monitoring on ≥15m vessels west of UK Article 12 EU Habitats Directive and transposed UK legislation ASCOBANS OSPAR Marine Strategy Framework Directive UK Marine Strategy | 1/2 | 3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 1/2 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 1 | 1 | |
| Set (fixed) nets | (EU) 2019/1241 Technical Conservation Measures Regulation Pingers ≥12m gillnetters South West & North Sea Monitoring on ≥15m vessels west of Scotland and enforcement of pinger use through Royal Navy and Fisheries Protection inspections. Article 12 EU Habitats Directive ASCOBANS OSPAR | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 1 | 1 | |
| Acoustic disturbance | Cumulative impacts of acoustic disturbance | Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment Development of assessment tools (DEPONS/iPCOD) Cumulative Effects Framework tool Licensing may include data submission to Marine Noise Registry for impulsive noise | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Seismic or geophysical surveys | EPS licensing; Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitat Regulations Assessment[3] JNCC Guidelines for minimising the risk of injury and disturbance to marine mammals from seismic surveys[4] | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Underwater explosions | EPS licensing; Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitat Regulations Assessment; JNCC guidance on minimising risk to marine mammals from explosion[5]; JNCC DRAFT guidelines for minimising the risk of injury to marine mammals from unexploded ordnance clearance in the marine environment[6]5; Marine environment: unexploded ordnance clearance joint interim position statement 2022[7] | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
| Pile driving | EPS licensing; Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitat Regulations Assessment, JNCC Statutory nature conservation agency protocol for minimising the risk of injury to marine mammals from piling noise | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Operational offshore wind farms | Marine Licence, Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitat Regulations Assessment | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | |
| Operational oil and gas platforms | Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitat Regulations Assessment | 1/2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | |
| Acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) | May require an EPS licence if there is a risk of significant disturbance or injury. Aquaculture code of practice: Any proposal to use ADDs must be in compliance with Aquaculture Production Businesses in Scotland relevant legal obligations, including those under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, to ensure that any impacts on the marine environment are properly managed and safeguarded for future generations. | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2/3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Fish finders and depth sounders | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | ||
| Pingers | (EU) 2019/1241 Technical Conservation Measures Regulation | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Mining and dredging activities | Marine Licence and Crown Estate lease | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/2 | |
| Vessel noise | If part of a development may be subject to: Marine Licence, Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitat Regulations Assessment | 2/3 | 2/3 | 1 | 2/3 | 2 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 1 | 2/3 | 2 | |
| Military activity and sonar | Marine Environment and Sustainability Assessment Tool (MESAT) Alert system | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | |
| Physical disturbance | Scientific studies (e.g. tagging, photo ID, biopsy) | Certain activities require licensing | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Recreational and Wildlife Tourism | Voluntary wildlife watching codes for devolved nations; Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code; Wild Seas Wales; Marine and coastal wildlife code Regional initiatives; Ceredigion County Council boat patrols to monitor activity with regard to code of conduct in Cardigan Bay. Wildlife Safe Scheme (WiSe) training for wildlife tourism operators. | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2/3 | 2 | |
| Change to habitat | Barrier to movement | EPS licensing, Environmental Impact and Habitat Regulations Assessment | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Change / removal of supporting habitat | EPS licensing, Environmental Impact and Habitat Regulations Assessment | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1/2 | |
| Reduction in availability of prey | Fisheries quotas manage EU stocks of commercial species UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (UKCSIP)[8] Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS)[9] | 3 | 3 | 2/3 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1/2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Localised temperature change | The process leading to the change (e.g. cooling water discharge) would require licence from relevant authority | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Physical injury | Vessel strikes | Recorded through UKCSIP and SMASS International Whaling Commission (IWC) ship strike register[10]. | 3 | 3 | 1/2 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 1 | 2/3 | 2 |
| Collision with renewable energy devices | Environmental Impact and Habitat Regulations Assessments [EPS licences may be required] Development of collision risk models (CRM) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| High energy, acoustic events, for example removal of unexploded ordnance | JNCC Protocol for Minimising the risk of injury to marine mammals from explosives use[11]; Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCB) protocol for minimising the risk of injury to marine mammals from piling noise [12]; JNCC DRAFT guidelines for minimising the risk of injury to marine mammals from unexploded ordnance clearance in the marine environment10; Marine environment: unexploded ordnance clearance joint interim position statement 202211 Environmental Impact and Habitat Regulations Assessments [EPS licences may be required] | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Marine pollution | Oil pollution | Various industry standards and measures to prevent & respond to spills | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Chemical pollution (e.g. PCBs, butyltins, PAHs, Radionuclides) | UK and EU legislation that limits/prohibits disposal of chemicals (Annex 1) Stockholm Convention. OSPAR - HASEC (Hazardous Substances and Eutrophication Committee) and EIHA (Environmental Impacts of Human Activities Committee) groups. | 4 | 4 | 2/3 | 2,4 | 2/3 | 4 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 4 | 2 | |
| Plastic pollution (ingestion) | OSPAR Regional Action Plan for prevention and management of marine litter in the North-East Atlantic | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Entanglements in marine litter & ghost nets | OSPAR Regional Action Plan for prevention and management of marine litter in the North-East Atlantic UKCSIP and SMASS Scottish Entanglement Alliance | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Eutrophication, sewage pathogens | The EU Water Framework Directive - integrated river basin management for Europe (WFD)[13] | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Contact
Email: marine_species@gov.scot