Porpoise conservation plan presented to State Secretary Bleker

23-11-2011   On Wednesday 23 November, the Conservation Plan for the Harbour Porpoise was presented to Mr Bleker, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. This conservation plan was written by Kees Camphuysen (NIOZ) and Marije Siemensma (Marine Science & Communication, MSC). It presents an extensive overview of the current state of knowledge, the principal threats and the possibilities for protecting this small type of whale in the Dutch North Sea.

The conservation plan has been written in consultation with fishermen, conservation organisations and wind farm developers. When presented with the report, Mr Bleker said that he was happy that the various parties worked in unison to contribute to this report and that he would implement its recommendations.

The porpoise is a vulnerable species, and Netherlands is obliged to protect the porpoise by both the Habitats Directive and the action plan for the protection of the porpoise that is part of the ASCOBANS agreement. Gaps in knowledge about the porpoise should be filled, and Mr Bleker will soon appoint a committee to co-ordinate the direction and evaluation of various current research projects, as the conservation plan recommends. The Netherlands will aim for generic protection (implementing the recommendations on research and policies in the conservation plan) in order to meet the requirements in the Habitat Directive.

The conservation plan takes the same position with regard to recreational gill-net fishing along the North Sea coast as Mr Bleker, who adopted a ‘yes-unless’ policy. In addition, methods for reducing bycatch in professional fishing will be discussed with other countries bordering the North Sea and the European Committee. Furthermore, possible ways to fill gaps in regulation governing noise at sea will be discussed with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment.
Photo Hans Nieuwenhuis (Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation), The Hague, 23 November 2011.

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Camphuysen C.J. & M.L. Siemensma 2011. Conservation Plan for the Harbour Porpoise Phocoena Phocoena in the Netherlands: towards a Favourable Conservation Status. NIOZ Report 2011-07, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, 183pp.