Will the Minister provide an update on the progress of management plans and site conservation objectives for harbour porpoise special areas of conservation (SACs) in Wales?
Answered by Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs | Answered on 01/03/2021
The UK Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy is due to be launched as a public consultation during the coming months. This process is being led by Marine Scotland with input from Welsh Government Officials and the other UK administrations.
The objectives of the strategy are:
- Identify vulnerabilities and the relevant pressures on the populations of the nine species of dolphins, porpoises and minke whales in UK waters.
- Identify management measures and obligations and opportunities for improvement.
- Prioritise the management of key pressures that pose the greatest risk to achieving and/or maintaining favourable conservation status.
- Initiate new actions, where necessary, to maintain or improve conservation status.
- Improve understanding of population status and trends.
- Raise public awareness and understanding of dolphin, porpoise and minke whale populations in UK waters.
- Bring together organisations to implement the actions.
Upon completion of the public consultation process, the strategy will lead to the production of management plans and actions with a view to improving conservation status in Wales and across the UK.