Abstract

During 24 seasons (November, December and January) from 1834 to 1892, 27 992 harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, were taken in the Strait of Lille Baelt, Denmark with a mean annual harvest of 1 122. Catches during the 2 world wars were between 230 and about 700 animals. From this data and the author’s own field observations in 1969/70, when about 20 animals were seen, it can be concluded that the present migration of harbour porpoises through Danish waters is less than before.