Publication - Strategy/plan
UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy
Strategy to support the conservation and protection of cetaceans in UK waters, contributing to the UK’s vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically diverse oceans and seas.
Scope
There are a wide range of cetaceans in UK waters, with the species covered in the Strategy representing those species known to regularly occur in UK waters (Table 1). However, we anticipate that actions identified through this Strategy will also likely benefit other cetacean species in UK waters with similar life histories. The geographical extent of the Strategy is the UK Continental Shelf limit (Figure 1).
| Species (common name) | Habitats Regulations (UK) 2019-2025 | Commentary from Habitats Regulations (UK) 2019-2025 | IUCN red list - Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harbour porpoise | Unfavourable - inadequate | Range has remained stable. Overall population has been stable since 2005; however, there are regional differences in trends in abundance. | Least concern - stable |
| Common dolphin | Favourable | Range extending northwards. Population is increasing. | Least concern - unknown |
| Atlantic white-sided dolphin | Unknown | The population estimate for 2022 is based primarily on density estimates from the SCANS IV survey. | Least concern - stable |
| Bottlenose dolphin (offshore UK) | Favourable | UK EEZ waters are considered the edge of the range of bottlenose dolphins in the North Atlantic. The population in the Oceanic Waters MU (Management Unit) has increased since 2016. | Least concern - unknown |
| Bottlenose dolphin (coastal UK) | Favourable | The coastal dolphin populations are stable or increasing. Their coastal range also appears to be extended in some MUs. | |
| White-beaked dolphin | Favourable | UK waters represent the southern range limit for this species. The abundance has continued to increase since 2005. | Least concern - stable |
| Risso’s dolphin | Favourable | Range has extended. Population estimates are stable. | Least concern - unknown |
| Striped dolphin | Unknown | The UK is the northern limit of the striped dolphin range in the Northeast Atlantic. | Least concern - unknown |
| Killer whale | Unknown | There is no comprehensive abundance estimate available. The inshore (2021) catalogue documents 200 individuals. Offshore there will be many more. | Least concern - unknown |
| Long-finned pilot whale | Unknown | The population estimate for 2022 is based primarily on density estimates from the SCANS IV survey. | Least concern - unknown |
| Minke whale | Unfavourable - inadequate | There is inter‐annual variation in distribution, driven by prey availability. The 2022 population estimate for minke whale is likely to be an underestimate due to the gap in SCANS IV survey effort in offshore waters west of Scotland. | Least concern - stable |
| Humpback whale | Unknown | There is a perception that humpback whale numbers in UK waters are increasing, but evidence is still limited to confirm this trend. | Least concern - increasing |
| Fin whale | Unknown | Increase in the number of observations in the north and central North Sea. | Least concern - unknown |
| Sperm whale | Unknown | The population estimate for 2022 is based primarily on population estimates from the SCANS IV survey. This is likely to be an underestimate due to the gap in survey effort in offshore waters west of Scotland, which is a high‐density region for this species. | Vulnerable - decreasing |
|
Beaked whales (species group):
|
Unknown | Given the nature of these animals, cryptic behaviour and perceived preference for offshore distributions, data are lacking to quantify range or accurate abundance. |
Least concern – unknown (Europe & Global) Least Concern – unknown (Global) |
Contact
Email: marine_species@gov.scot