Dec 19th 2025: Hundreds of species of highly threatened UK wildlife are left without much needed legal protection as the UK government opt not to act on the definitive findings of the much delayed five-yearly review of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (WCA).

Updates to the review criteria, published in 2021, proposed ‘All Great Britain Critically Endangered species will be automatically recommended for scheduling without needing to meet the Decision Criteria’. This criterion alone teed-up over 270 species of Critically Endangered domestic plants and animals, including 4 species of sharks and rays, for a much-needed boost in protective status.

The comprehensive report and recommendations published this week by the government’s own Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs) is the culmination of over four years of detailed consultation and data gathering, resulting in recommendations to list 311, of the 704, proposed species on the WCA. This included Critically Endangered Blue Skate, Flapper Skate, and Porbeagle.

Yet contrary to the report’s findings, the government have responded that despite recognising the value of the data and evidence, they will not be following the report’s recommendations and do not intend to implement the proposed amendments to the Act: the existing legal framework for wildlife protection.

This inaction runs counter to the UK’s proactive attitude in international conservation fora, and their stated commitment to taking action to recover our threatened native species. And, following the collapse of the previous WCA review process, and the failure to act on this report’s clear recommendations we are left with significant concerns. We will be seeking clear justification as to why the government opted not to add these threatened species to the Act.

“This isn’t a single species issue, but a missed opportunity to bolster the protection of hundreds of species of the UK’s most threatened wildlife”

“After years of work by NGOs and the statutory bodies the government have simply moved the goal-posts for these threatened species without clear justification. And while we’re baffled by their decision to not use the existing Wildlife Act, we’ll continue to press for the protection these threatened species urgently require.“

Banner photo: © Terry Jackson | Porbeagle Lamna nasus 
In post photo: © Doug Perrine | Porbeagle Lamna nasus