§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the survey on the abundance and distribution of small cetaceans in the North sea; and which other countries are involved.
§ Mr. Yeo[holding answer 21 October 1993]: The "Small Cetacean Abundance in the North Sea" survey (SCANS) is a major international research project, which aims to record the abundance and distribution of dolphins, porpoises and other small cetaceans in the North sea and adjacent areas. It will provide baseline data for considering whether further conservation measures are necessary. The work will be carried out under the provisions of the agreement on the conservation of small cetaceans of the Baltic and North seas (ASCOBANS), which the United Kingdom ratified on 13 July 1993. The project is being co-ordinated by the sea mammal research unit in Cambridge. The European Commission, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom are all contributing towards the costs of the 351W project, estimated to be 1,408,800 ecu, of which the United Kingdom is contributing 160,000 ecu. The main survey work is to be undertaken in summer 1994.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what level of funding is being provided for the interim secretariat of ASCOBANS at the sea mammal research unit in Cambridge.
§ Mr. Yeo[holding answer 21 October 1993]: The Department of the Environment has provided funding of £43,754 for the interim secretariat of ASCOBANS at the sea mammal research unit in Cambridge, since it was established in June 1992.