Earlier this year, Janet Finch-Saunders AM was made Species Champion for the harbour porpoise through the Wales Environment Link initiative, and pledged to promote their well-being and call to reverse the trends in their decline.

Following recent concern regarding a lack of safe marine areas allocated in UK waters for harbour porpoises, and of the new conservation area which has been developed in waters off the west coast of Scotland to help protect this species, the AM has written to the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, to enquire as to how the Welsh Government will respond to these concerns.

The Member has also requested information, further to the joint JNCC/NRW consultation on potential sites earlier this year, as to what the Cabinet Secretary is seeking to do in terms of developing appropriate conservation areas to protect this vulnerable species.

A copy of Janet's letter can be found below.

Notes: The Species Champion initiative is run by the Wales Environment Link

Photo courtesy of Wildlife Trusts Wales, credit: Niki Clear.