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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

MPs on the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have called for action by the Government to help protect marine mammals in the UK and abroad.

• Read a summary of the Committee's work on how we can protect marine mammals

Report on protecting marine mammals in the UK and abroad

Last month, the Committee published a report on the issues affecting marine mammals such as whales, dolphins and porpoises and made recommendations to increase marine mammal protection.

The report calls on the Government to implement the following key measures:

• Launch an initiative to fund the development of new technological solutions to marine mammal monitoring
• Accelerate the pace of action on management plans for protected areas in UK waters
• Work with the devolved administrations to bring down bycatch numbers
• Produce an action plan to work towards mandatory bycatch monitoring
• Bring in bespoke primary legislation on marine mammal protection
• Include commitments to marine mammal conservation in new trade agreements

You can read a summary of the Committee's report, and the Committee's full report on their website.

The Government now must respond to the committee's report, which was published on 28 June 2023, within two months. The committee will publish the Government’s response on the Committee's website.

What is the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee?

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is a cross-party group of backbench MPs that scrutinises the administration, spending and policy of the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

• Find out more about the committee on its website
• Follow the committee on Twitter for updates on its work

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work.

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.