UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy

Introduction

The UK marine environment is one of the most biologically diverse in Europe, rich in both habitats and species. Whales, dolphins and porpoise (collectively known as ‘cetaceans’) are commonly seen throughout UK waters.

However, current pressures and emerging threats such as climate change, bycatch and underwater noise are known to impact these species in UK waters, and go beyond discrete geographical boundaries. Cooperation and collective action are therefore needed to tackle these threats. With this in mind, the Scottish Government in partnership with the UK Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive and the relevant statutory nature conservation bodies (SNCBs), committed to the development of a UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy (hereafter referred to as the ‘Strategy’) which provides a framework for conservation action.

The Strategy sets out six high-level recommendations where action can be taken to address threats and pressures acting on the species, and where further research is required to improve the current evidence base. These recommendations take account of the main pressures facing cetacean populations, their vulnerability to these pressures, and action already underway across the UK by governments, public bodies and stakeholders. The Strategy also recognises that the pressures cetaceans face are not uniform across UK waters, and that there will be a need for more focused efforts at a local or regional level. The Strategy has been developed taking account of the views of a wide range of stakeholders as part of the 2021 consultation and stakeholder events.

The Strategy is for everyone. The four governments recognise that they have a role to play in facilitating opportunities and, where appropriate, implementing some of these vital actions. However, to be successful, action will require a collective effort and partnership working across a range of organisations and individuals in which we all have a role.

Of central importance to the Strategy is the UK Marine Strategy (UKMS) which provides a comprehensive framework to achieve the UK’s shared vision of a clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse marine environment. Requirements relating to the assessment, monitoring and putting in place necessary measures to achieve and maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) are set out in legislation which requires us to work together to monitor and protect what are some of the most biologically diverse and productive seas in the North-East Atlantic^[1]. Further focus is also provided by a range of domestic and international frameworks, policies and strategies relating to the conservation of cetaceans in UK waters (Table 3 of the Technical Report).