Causes of death of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded on the on the continental coastline of the southern North Sea (Belgium, France, and Dutch coasts) between 1990 and 2007 ...

• Main Authors: Jauniaux, T., Berguerie, H., Camphuysen, K., Daoust, P-Y., Drouguet, O., Ghisbain, T., Garcia-Hartmann, M., Grondin, A., Haelters, J., Jacques, T., Kiszka, J., Leopold, M., Pezeril, S., Schnitzler, J., Coignoul, F.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: ASC 2008 - Theme session D 2024
• Subjects: Fisheries and aquaculture; Pressures, impacts, conservation, and management; Harbour porpoise; Phocoena phocoena
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.25243585; https://ices-library.figshare.com/articles/conference_contribution/Causes_of_death_of_harbor_porpoises_Phocoena_phocoena_stranded_on_the_on_the_continental_coastline_of_the_southern_North_Sea_Belgium_France_and_Dutch_coasts_between_1990_and_2007/25243585

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.The Marine Animals Research & Intervention Network investigated the causes of death of marine mammals stranded on the continental coastline of the southern North Sea (Belgium and France, and selected cases of the Dutch coast). Since the end of the 1990s, a significant rise of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) strandings occurred in the area, annual stranding average being less than 50 porpoises between 1990 and 1998, and more than 260 between 1999 and 2007. The aim of the study is to present the main lesions and causes of death of 615 porpoises found dead and necropsied, and to find a potential explanation for that dramastic rise. Most frequent observations included net marks on the skin, sub-cutaneous and muscular bruises, emaciation, pulmonary and gastric parasitism, acute pneumonia, and pulmonary congestion and edema. Two causes of death were significant: by-catch in fishing nets and infectious diseases. By-catch was mainly observed ...