Using models to investigate a harbour porpoise bycatch problem in the southern North Sea-eastern Channel in spring 2005 ...

• Main Authors: Haelters, Jan, Jauniaux, Thierry, Kerckhof, Francis, Ozer, José, Scory, Serge
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: ASC 2006 - Theme session L 2024
• Subjects: Fisheries and aquaculture; Harbour porpoise; Phocoena phocoena
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.25259011.v1; https://ices-library.figshare.com/articles/conference_contribution/Using_models_to_investigate_a_harbour_porpoise_bycatch_problem_in_the_southern_North_Sea-eastern_Channel_in_spring_2005/25259011/1

No abstracts are to be cited without prior reference to the author.At the Belgian coast a remarkably high number of dead harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena washed ashore in the first half of May 2005. In total 16 were counted between 3 and 16 May. This is a number without known precedent in this area and in such a short period, and it arises concern given the species’ conservation status. The state of decomposition of all porpoises was very similar. They were very decomposed, and it was estimated that they had died at least 2 to 3 weeks prior to their stranding. All carcasses were subjected to a necropsy. Two had been cut open ventrally, clearly indicating that they were bycaught in fishing gear. Bycatch was also the most probable cause of death of the other porpoises. Prior to the stranding in Belgium (and to a lesser extent The Netherlands), high numbers of dead stranded porpoises were reported from North Sea shores of Denmark and the United Kingdom. Given the mortality observed at Danish and British ...