§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the environmental effects of the catamaran fast ferries now operating across the Channel and the Irish and North Seas are being monitored, including the effect of noise from the ferries on (a) sea mammals and (b) fish. [HL2294]
§ Baroness HaymanWe are not carrying out any direct monitoring of the environmental effects of catamaran ferries. However, the department's Maritime and Coastguard Agency is carrying out research into the safety aspects of the waves and wash generated by high speed craft. We are also working with other European countries, under the auspices of the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic and North 9WA Seas, to review information on the effects of high speed ferries on small cetaceans.