12/08/2017
North Atlantic Society
Annual report on the research of stranded Harbour Porpoises in The Netherlands by the University of Utrecht.
31% of the 55 Porpoises were killed by grey seals followed by infectious diseases (29%) Abstract:
IJsseldijk, L.L., M.J.L. Kik, L. Solé & A. Gröne (2017). Post-mortem research on porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from Dutch waters, 2016. Statutory Research Tasks Unit for Nature & the Environment (WOT Natuur & Milieu), WOt-technical report 96. 41 p.; 10 Figs; 3 Tabs; 13 Refs; 2 Annexes.
This annual report presents the results of post-mortem examinations of porpoises stranded on the Dutch coast. One of the main objectives of the research is to quantify human-induced causes of death. In 2016, 55 dead harbour porpoises were examined: 31 males and 24 females, including 14 adults, 33 juveniles and 8 neonates. Most of the harbour porpoises examined died as a result of grey seal attacks (31%), infectious diseases (29%) or food shortage (18%). Bycatch was the cause of death in 11% of the harbour porpoises examined.
