Cetaceans
Certain species of wild mammals are protected under their own
legal provisions.
Legislation prohibits the use of any ship for the whaling of
any species of cetacean within United Kingdom Fishery
Limits.
This protection is provided by the Whaling Industry
(Regulations) Act 1934, as amended by the Fishing Limits Act,
1981.
Amendments to the Habitats Regulations for England and Wales
and the new Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats,
&c.) Regulations 2007 came into force on the 21st
August 2007. Both Regulations revised the definition of deliberate
disturbance of European Protected Species (cetaceans, turtles and
the Atlantic sturgeon). In the document “The deliberate
disturbance of marine European Protected Species - Interim guidance
for English and Welsh territorial waters and the UK offshore marine
area”, the JNCC provides initial guidance in interpreting the
law from the point of view of nature conservation, so that
developers in the marine environment can assess the likelihood of
committing an offence and how offences can be avoided, and if a
wildlife licence is required.