UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy

Assessing the vulnerability of species to pressures and threats

To assess the vulnerability of cetacean populations to pressures at a UK scale, a detailed qualitative assessment was undertaken on nine species of cetacean using a combination of the best available scientific evidence and expert judgement (Technical Report, Scottish Government, 2021). To gauge the extent to which these pressures were being addressed, a review of current measures was conducted by a working group, with expert judgment used to highlight where progress was underway to deliver action that would be beneficial, and where more could be done through the identification of gaps.

With the addition of five new species and a species group following the 2021 consultation, a qualitative summary of the main pressures and threats acting on all the species in the Strategy was undertaken in place of re-running the vulnerability assessment (Sections 1 and 2, Technical Report, Scottish Government, 2021). This summary updates the original vulnerability assessment by including information on the five newly added species and species group, as well as any new evidence on the original nine species that was not available at the time of the original vulnerability assessment.

This process resulted in the identification of the main pressures acting on cetaceans in UK waters and where new or improved efforts were required (taking account of current or planned management), leading to the identification of six high-level recommendations.

Acknowledging that pressures acting on cetaceans can change over time, the process for assessing the vulnerability of species will be reviewed and adapted as required ahead of the next review cycle. This will ensure that any action taken to manage pressures is adaptive and informed by the best available evidence and expert opinion.