Preliminary Notes on the Occurrence and Exploitation of Smaller Cetacea in Greenland

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Author: Kapel, Finn O.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1975
• Subjects: General Medicine; Greenland; Balaenoptera acutorostrata; Beluga; Beluga*; Delphinapterus leucas; minke whale; Monodon monoceros; narwhal*; Phocoena phocoena; Thule; White whale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f75-128; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f75-128

Approximately 1000 common or harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are taken annually, not including the by-catch in salmon driftnets. Catches of narwhal (Monodon monoceros) and beluga (white whale, Delphinapterus leucas) fluctuate in the low to middle hundreds annually. Estimates of the annual catches in the Thule district are 100 beluga and 300 narwhals. Sporadic catches of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephata melaena) seldom exceed 100 animals per annum. Catches of minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) have risen since the late 1950s, with approximately 200 or more per annum taken in West Grenland since the mid 1960s. An annotated bibliography of titles on smaller Cetacea in Greenland is given.