‘A Practical Guide to Marine Mammal Law in the UK’ by Helen Mitcheson

Description

A Practical Guide to Marine Mammal Law in the UK is the first dedicated legal reference focussed exclusively on marine mammals in UK waters. Covering cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and pinnipeds (seals and walrus), this book consolidates a fragmented and complex body of law into one clear, structured and accessible resource for legal professionals and those working at the intersection of law and the marine environment.

The legal regimes relevant to marine mammals span wildlife legislation, fisheries regulations, environmental assessment frameworks and marine licensing regimes. These are further complicated by layers of devolved governance, assimilated EU law and differing interpretations across jurisdictions. This book explains how these frameworks operate in practice, identifies areas of overlap and ambiguity and recognises the challenges of applying general legal instruments to highly mobile species with specific ecological behaviours and requirements.

Each chapter is anchored in statutory provisions and focuses on key legal themes, including offences, disturbance, fisheries interactions, marine protected areas and captivity. The book does not advocate but seeks to inform – offering legal clarity and context to support practical navigation through this increasingly important field.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Helen Mitcheson is a solicitor with extensive experience at the intersection of law and marine mammal science. Before qualifying as a solicitor, she worked as a marine mammal scientist and consultant in the UK, Canada and the United States. She holds an MRes in Marine Mammal Science from the University of St Andrews – one of the first graduates from this internationally respected programme – and an LLM in Environmental Law from Newcastle University. Her legal and scientific expertise underpins her work, which involves advising developers, consultants, statutory bodies and NGOs on the legal frameworks affecting marine mammals in UK waters.

A recognised leader in the field, she has been listed on the ENDS Power List of 100 environmental professionals making the greatest impact in 2022, 2024 and 2025. She regularly lectures on marine mammal law, including at the University of St Andrews, and has presented on this topic at major conferences such as the United Nations Ocean Conference, the Society for Marine Mammalogy, the European Cetacean Society, the European Environmental Law Forum and the UK Environmental Law Association.

CONTENTS

Introduction
Chapter Two – Understanding Offences Against Marine Mammals: Navigating a Fragmented Legal Framework
Chapter Three – Protected Sites for Marine Mammals
Chapter Four – The Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) Process and Marine Mammals
Chapter Five – Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Marine Mammals
Chapter Six – Comparing HRA and EIA in the Context of Marine Mammals
Chapter Seven – The Legal Landscape of Marine Mammal Disturbance: Challenges and Interpretations
Chapter Eight – Legal Frameworks for Marine Mammal Bycatch and Entanglement
Chapter Nine – Captivity, Capture and Welfare
Chapter Ten – The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Report: A Call for Legislative Reform
Chapter Eleven – Reflections and Future Directions: Addressing Calls for Marine Mammal Protection Reform