Baltic Sea harbour porpoise populations: status and conservation needs derived from recent survey results

Benke, H.; Bräger, S.; Dähne, M.; Gallus, A.; Hansen, S.; Honnef, C. G.; Jabbusch, M.; Koblitz, J. C.; Krügel, K.; Liebschner, A.; Narberhaus, I.; Verfuß, U. K.
Marine Ecology Progress Series (2014)

During recent decades, the 2 distinct harbour porpoise populations of the Baltic Sea have decreased sharply in abundance. The Baltic Proper population is down to a few hundred individuals and…


Genetic diversity and population structure of the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) as revealed by mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA

Chen, Minmin; Zheng, Jinsong; Wu, Min; Ruan, Rui; Zhao, Qingzhong; Wang, Ding
International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2014)

Ecological surveys have indicated that the population of the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP, Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) is becoming increasingly small and fragmented, and will be at high risk…


Exposing the grey seal as a major predator of harbour porpoises

Leopold, M. F.; Begeman, L.; van Bleijswijk, J. D. L.; IJsseldijk, L. L.; Witte, H. J.; Grone, A.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2014)

Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranding in large numbers around the southern North Sea with fatal, sharp-edged mutilations have spurred controversy among scientists, the fishing industry and conservationists, whose views about…


Assessing the impact of underwater clearance of unexploded ordnance on Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the southern North Sea

von Benda-Beckmann, Alexander M.; Aarts, Geert; Sertlek, H. Özkan; Lucke, Klaus; Verboom, Wim C.; Kastelein, Ronald A.; Ketten, Darlene R.; van Bemmelen, Rob; Lam, Frans-Peter A.; Kirkwood, Roger J.; Ainslie, Michael A.
Aquatic Mammals (2015)

Large amounts of legacy unexploded ordnance (UXO) are still present in the North Sea. UXO are frequently accidentally encountered by fishermen and dredging vessels. Out of concern for human safety…


Increased harbor porpoise mortality in the Pacific Northwest, USA: understanding when higher levels may be normal

Huggins, JL; Raverty, SA; Norman, SA; Calambokidis, J; Gaydos, JK; Duffield, DA; Lambourn, DM; Rice, JM; Hanson, B; Wilkinson, K; Jeffries, SJ; Norberg, B; Barre, L
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms (2015)

In 2006, a marked increase in harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena strandings were reported in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, resulting in the declaration of an unusual mortality event (UME)…