“We must do more to protect marine mammals” – George

West Cornwall MP Andrew George is leading a cross-party group of MPs and peers who are calling on Government Ministers to improve protections for marine mammals. He has presented a Marine Mammals (Protection) Bill to Parliament, which he and fellow sponsors believe to be a template for the Government to adopt. 

Andrew George is urging Environment Minister, Emma Hardy MP, to include new protections for dolphins, seals and other marine mammals in the forthcoming King’s Speech (on 13th May). Mr George has met regularly with the Seal Research Trust (SRT) and other wildlife and marine campaigners. He has raised concerns about how some human activity is causing life threatening risk and disturbance to seals, dolphins and other marine mammals. 

Andrew said: “Government Ministers now have a golden opportunity to improve protection for marine mammals. Recent research by the SRT and others has proven a need for these measures. The work is done. A draft Bill written. There is cross-party support. All Ministers need to do is deliver it.” 

Andrew and his MP colleagues have called for the disturbance of all marine mammals (namely cetaceans and pinnipeds) to become a specific offence under Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Just before the recent Easter recess, Andrew introduced a Parliamentary Bill calling for these amendments to be made to the Act.