The MPs on the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have launched an inquiry into issues affecting marine mammals such as whales, dolphins and porpoises. The investigation by the Committee will cover marine mammals in UK waters and worldwide.
Find out more about the Committee's inquiry: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/6670/marine-mammals/news/166148/mps-examine-protecting-whales-and-other-marine-mammals/
The Committee will be considering the following questions:
- What is the status of marine mammal populations?
- How, and for what purpose, are marine mammals being killed?;
- Beyond whaling, what human behaviours are affecting whale populations and how?;
- How effective are the global protections of marine mammals?;
- How can the UK better protect marine mammals?; and
- What role can the UK Government play to protect and promote the conservation of marine mammals internationally?
Why has the Committee launched this inquiry?
Whales, dolphins and porpoises are a group of marine mammals collectively known as cetaceans. During the 19th and 20th centuries many cetacean populations collapsed due to over-hunting.
A moratorium on the commercial hunting of whales was introduced in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission. The recovery from near extinction of some whale populations, such as humpback whales, is considered a major conservation success story. However, some other populations, such as North Atlantic Right Whales remain critically endangered.
Despite the moratorium some counties continue to hunt whales. There are also several human-made hazards, beyond whaling, that threaten marine mammal populations. These include ocean noise, bycatch (where mammals are inadvertently caught by fishers), ship collision, pollution and climate change. There have also been reports that the number of ‘strandings’ (on land) is on the rise. Other marine mammal populations such as seals, manatees and dugongs are also thought to be affected by these human-made hazards.
The aim of the Committee's inquiry is to better to understand the role that Britain can play in protecting marine mammals in UK waters and worldwide.
Keep up to date on the Committee's inquiry
Updates on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's inquiry into marine mammals, including upcoming evidence sessions, will be published here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/6670/
You can also follow the committee on Twitter for updates on its work: https://twitter.com/CommonsEFRA
What is the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee?
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that look into the work of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Find out more about the committee on its website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/52/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://parliament.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3ad7e4c57a864f07e4db008c4&id=26d0645ea9