UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy

Implementation

The Strategy addresses a wide range of issues, and its high-level recommendations cover a range of pressures that will vary in terms of geographical extent and in the diversity of partners with a role to play. Specific aspects of this Strategy will therefore be best taken forward at a UK level through delivery of common areas of interest, but others will be better dealt with at a country or regional level through existing channels.

Oversight

The four UK governments will support implementation of this Strategy. We will establish a UK coordination group to provide strategic oversight of progress in delivering action against the high-level recommendations within the Strategy. In terms of regional action, we will use existing processes where they exist at the country-level or establish new groups as appropriate.

Partnership approach

Collaboration and partnership working between government bodies, non-governmental organisations and community groups, research institutes, industry and the general public will be fundamental to implementing the Strategy and meeting its vision. Encouragingly, there are many examples of strong partnerships already working across public, private, and charitable bodies that serve as a model on which we can build to implement the Strategy.

Following publication of the Strategy, we will engage with our stakeholder communities to work through the high-level recommendations and 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. The focus will be on identifying actions with clear and measurable targets. It is essential that the key issues identified within the Strategy are addressed collaboratively.

Integrated policy making

This Strategy and the high-level recommendations do not exist in isolation. Many existing and emerging policies that aim to ensure that the UK plays its full part in responding to the nature and climate crises will deliver improvements to the UK’s marine environment, which will in turn benefit cetaceans. Equally, delivery of this Strategy will provide wider benefits and contribute towards achieving our commitments and help mitigate and adapt to climate change.

We will respond and adapt to this evolving policy context through implementation of the Strategy and, thereafter, through the review process.

Measuring progress and success

The true success in achieving the vision of this Strategy will be measured by the conservation status of cetaceans in UK waters. However, recognising that cetacean species are long-lived and slow to reproduce, measurable progress against the vision, aim and objectives of the Strategy may not be apparent for some years. It is, therefore, important that we can track progress and evaluate the impact of any action taken.

There are several critical existing data collection and assessments programmes which will be instrumental in determining the success of the Strategy. These include the UKMS Part 1, SCANS surveys and Habitats Regulations conservation status reports.

Review

The UK reports on a six-year cycle under the UKMS which updates on progress towards achieving and maintaining GES. To link with reporting against GES, the Strategy will also undergo a review on a six-year cycle. This will allow progress against the threats and pressures to be assessed.

The evidence base for assessing the vulnerability of cetaceans will also be reviewed to ensure the threats and pressures that continue are taken forward into the areas for action and are based on the best available evidence.

Additionally, our understanding of pressures and threats faced by these species may change as new evidence emerges and we must keep these under review.