The Scottish Government has today strengthened hopes for the conservation of its marine wildlife with the publication of its Scottish Marine Bill. WDCS has welcomed the development of the Bill and has been calling for the inclusion of strong, enforceable protection measures for sea life, including whales and dolphins.
WDCS’s Sarah Dolman said ‘This is a rare opportunity for Scotland to become a world leader in marine conservation, but this is only possible if the Bill includes provisions that truly protect our national sea life treasures. For too long, whales and dolphins and other marine species have been neglected as threats increase all around our coasts. We need a better, stronger and enforceable law for their protection.’
Scottish waters account for around 60% of the UK’s coastline. An outstanding diversity of whales, dolphins and porpoises, at least 24 different species, inhabit or visit these waters, including the world’s largest animal, the blue whale. At least ten of these species are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with both fin and sei whales, who live in deep waters off to the west of Scotland, categorised as Endangered.
Currently, however, Scotland only has one protected area for any of these animals; the Special Area of Conservation for bottlenose dolphins in the inner Moray Firth. The latest science shows us that even this ‘protected’ population is thought to be declining, and the important habitats of the other species have no protection at all.
Sarah Dolman continued ‘The case for new legislation in Scotland is already established, but it is important to ensure it truly protects our natural heritage. It is now down to the political will to make it happen and we look forward to working with the Scottish Government to ensure this is the case’
WDCS is calling for the Bill to include enforceable laws to protect threatened and endangered sea life, proper co-ordination of industrial development and activities at sea, transparency and consultation in decision making, designation of a coherent and well managed network of substantial marine protected areas which include highly protected zones for vulnerable and little known whales and dolphins, as well as further research to identify areas important to their survival.