United Kingdom
One of the 15 original signatories for the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. At least 28 of the world's recognised cetacean species have been reported in UK waters. Seven of these species, including minke whales, harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins, Risso's dolphins, white-beaked dolphins, common dolphins, and killer whales, can be seen regularly throughout the year. United Kingdom profile on Whale Watching Handbook
UK Laws and Regulations
Country: UK
Section: Legal developments
Theme: Sanctuaries and protected areas
Date started:
Date ended:
Status: Active
laws, regulations and other regulatory measures related to cetaceans
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) uses an intelligence led risk based enforcement model to direct enforcement activities and resources. Any intelligence received by the MMO in relation to offences against cetaceans or anthropogenic impacts in MPAs designated for them is considered and appropriate enforcement action taken. As part of the Marine Licensing process for offshore construction, the MMO require and monitor the implementation of Marine Mammal Mitigation Protocols (MMMPs) to mitigate against harm and disturbance to cetaceans, including for piling work on wind farms.
External URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protected-marine-species/cetaceans-dolphins-porpoises-and-whales
Links to documents:
UK Conservation Research
Country: UK
Section: Current Government programs related to cetacean conservation
Theme: Conservation Management plans
Date started:
Date ended:
Status: Active
surveillance and monitoring is conducted by a number of organisations
2.1 UK surveillance and monitoring programme
The Sea Mammal Research Unit has used spatial modelling to estimate abundance and explore species-habitat relationships of cetaceans in European Atlantic waters. The analysis combined data from SCANS-II (surveyed in 2005), CODA (surveyed in 2007) and the Faroes block of TNASS (surveyed in 2007). Species for which abundance could be estimated were: harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), white-beaked dolphin, white-sided dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, short-beaked common dolphin, striped dolphin, long-finned pilot whale, minke whale, fin whale, sperm whale, and all beaked whale species combined. Preliminary results were presented in December 2011 to the Biennial Conference on Marine Mammal Biology in Tampa. Recently discovered minor issues with the processing of the SCANS-II and CODA data, which are currently being addressed, will alter the results very slightly. The final results will be available later this year.
Annual monitoring of bottlenose dolphin and harbour porpoise populations continued in Cardigan Bay, West Wales using photo-ID (bottlenose dolphin) and line transect survey (both species) (Veneruso & Evans, 2012). After earlier (2001-07) increases, abundance estimates of the bottlenose dolphin population of Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation show a general decline. In 2011, the overall Cardigan Bay abundance estimate for bottlenose dolphin was 296 (CV=28.8) and for harbour porpoise was 990 (CV=27.1), from line transect surveys. Life history parameters measured from photo-ID for bottlenose dolphin indicate a mean annual birth rate of between 5.2% and 7.7% (2001-11) depending upon whether a closed or open population model is adopted; an inter-calf interval ranging from 2-5 years, with 3 years being the most common; and calf mortality rates of 20.4% (year 1), 24.5% (year 2), and 10.2% (year 3) (Veneruso & Evans, 2012). Bottlenose dolphins from Cardigan Bay disperse in winter and generally move northwards in November to waters between Anglesey and the Isle of Man (and probably beyond) where they largely remain until the following April (Veneruso & Evans, 2012). Acoustic studies using TPODs and C-PODs have been undertaken between 2009-12 (Hanna Nuuttila, PhD student, University of Bangor), extending other acoustic monitoring & research by SWF within Cardigan Bay SAC (Simon et al., 2010; Meier, 2010; Nurminem, 2010; Wahlberg et al., 2011).
In Jersey, the marine biology section of the Societe Jersiaise receive and collate information from the public concerning cetacean sightings. This data is available online. Sighting data is also recorded by the States of Jersey Fisheries Protection Vessel. Dolphins were sighted on 18 separate occasions in 2011. This was a decrease on 2010’s figures, but still higher than most previous years and above the 10 year average (Fig. 10). All sightings were identified as bottlenose dolphins. Sightings occurred mainly to the north, east and south of the Island ranging from Les Écréhous in the north to Les Minquiers in the south. In total 124 adult dolphins and 15 Juveniles were observed. Juveniles represented 12% of sightings in 2011, compared to 9% in 2010, 10% in 2009 and just 3% in 2008. Pattern and frequency of patrols was reduced in 2011, with days at sea slightly less than in 2010 due to section re-structuring.
External URL: https://soi.st-andrews.ac.uk/research-overview/research-sea-mammal-research-unit/
Links to documents:
UK Marine Protected Areas for cetaceans
Country: UK
Section: Current Government programs related to cetacean conservation
Theme: Sanctuaries and protected areas
Date started:
Date ended:
Status: Active
The 28 species of cetacean recorded in UK waters are protected within a strong legal regime which encompasses both international commitments and national laws. Ten Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are in place within UK waters specifically naming cetaceans as a qualifying feature and 31 MPAs specifically naming cetaceans as a non-qualifying feature.
The following MPAs are in place within UK waters and specifically name cetaceans as a qualifying feature.
- Cardigan Bay/Bae Ceredigion SAC with bottlenose dolphin considered as a qualifying feature.
- Pen Llyn a`r Sarnau/ Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC with bottlenose dolphin considered a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection.
- Moray Firth SAC with bottlenose dolphin considered as a qualifying feature.
- Skerries and Causeway SAC with harbour porpoise considered as a qualifying feature.
- Southern North Sea SCI, harbour porpoise qualifying feature
- Bristol Channel Approaches SCI, harbour porpoise qualifying feature
- West Wales Marine SCI, harbour porpoise qualifying feature
- North Anglesey Marine SCI, harbour porpoise qualifying feature
- North Channel SCI, harbour porpoise qualifying feature
- Inner Hebrides and the Minches SCI, harbour porpoise qualifying feature
Other protected areas including other Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (NC MPAs), and Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) are in place for other features in the UK (and the management measures associated with them) which will indirectly contribute to the conservation of cetaceans in UK waters. Web-based Site Information Centres now exist for all designated offshore sites, detailing site summary information, and regularly updated information on conservation objectives, data and management.
External URL: https://archive.iwc.int/?r=7826
Links to documents:
UK Threats and Measures
Country: UK
Section: Current threats to cetacean conservation and management measures taken/proposed
Theme: Bycatch
Date started:
Date ended:
Status: Active
The two main species affected by fishing in UK waters are the harbour porpoise and the shortbeaked common dolphin. All Reports to the European Commission on activities conducted by the UK under Regulation 812/2004, and under Article 12(4) of the Habitats Directive, provide details of the monitoring work undertaken and estimates of bycatch.
Bycatch
The two main species affected by fishing in UK waters are the harbour porpoise and the shortbeaked common dolphin. All Reports to the European Commission on activities conducted by the UK under Regulation 812/2004, and under Article 12(4) of the Habitats Directive, provide details of the monitoring work undertaken and estimates of bycatch.
A dedicated monitoring scheme is operated by the SMRU, while collaborative links with the three fishery research laboratories in the UK also allow selected observations from the Discard Sampling Programmes to be included in our assessment of cetacean bycatch. The observer scheme relies upon good collaborative links with industry. Nevertheless fisheries regulations were enacted in England and Scotland to ensure that there is also a legal obligation for skippers and owners to take observers when asked to do so.
In June 2010, a Scottish Government project “Entanglement of minke whales in Scottish waters: an investigation into occurrence, causes and mitigation’ was published. The report can be found at the following link: www.smru.stand.ac.uk/documents/347.pdf
Implementation of methods to reduce bycatch
Work on mitigation continues to focus on the use of one specific type of acoustic deterrent device (DDD). These devices (DDD03F) are being used in the UK component (outside 12NM) of the midwater pair trawl fishery for bass in the Western English Channel with continued success. Avariant of the same device (DDD03H) has been adopted by the over 12m gill and tangle net fleet in the Western Channel and Celtic Sea. Observations on this fleet segment have shown the effectiveness of these devices in minimising porpoise bycatch by over 90% in nets of up to 4km in length, but the effect on common dolphins is not yet clear.
Research proposals
The UK was pleased to provide a voluntary contribution of £10,000 to the IWC small cetacean fund in 2011. The UK was also pleased to provide financial support contributing to the work of the IUCN’s (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel. We have also commissioned research into ‘The Contribution of Marine Protected Areas to Protecting Highly Mobile Species in English Waters’.
Through membership of the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS) the UK helped secure funding for 3 projects in 2011/12:
• Examination of habitat exclusion and long-term effects of pingers;
• Extension of the contract for the coordinator of the North Sea Plan for harbour porpoises for a further six months;
• Kaliningrad CPOD project submitted by Baltic Fund for Nature Results of these projects will be presented next year.
The UK will also host the seventh Meeting of Parties to ASCOBANS in October 2012.
Renewables
The Scottish Government let a contract to the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) in January 2012 to undertake strands of research in three key marine themes, including marine renewables. The focus of this work programme will include: mapping out the current marine research landscape with respect to marine mammals and marine renewables and identifying any data/research gaps, quantifying potential risks to marine mammals from marine renewable energy and identifying management and mitigation measures where appropriate building on ongoing work in this area. This research programme will complete in 2015.
External URL: http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/protect/species/cetaceans/
Links to documents: