Academic Journal
Assessment of Harbour Porpoise Bycatch along the Portuguese and Galician Coast: Insights from Strandings over Two Decades
| Title: | Assessment of Harbour Porpoise Bycatch along the Portuguese and Galician Coast: Insights from Strandings over Two Decades |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Andreia Torres-Pereira, Hélder Araújo, Silvia Silva Monteiro, Marisa Ferreira, Jorge Bastos-Santos, Sara Sá, Lídia Nicolau, Ana Marçalo, Carina Marques, Ana Sofia Tavares, Myriam De Bonis, Pablo Covelo, José Martínez-Cedeira, Alfredo López, Marina Sequeira, José Vingada, Catarina Eira |
| Source: | Animals, Vol 13, Iss 16, p 2632 (2023) |
| Publisher Information: | MDPI AG, 2023. |
| Publication Year: | 2023 |
| Collection: | LCC:Veterinary medicine LCC:Zoology |
| Subject Terms: | Iberian Peninsula, marine mammals, Phocoena phocoena, fisheries, potential biological removal, critically endangered, Veterinary medicine, SF600-1100, Zoology, QL1-991 |
| More Details: | The Iberian harbour porpoise population is small and fisheries bycatch has been described as one of its most important threats. Data on harbour porpoise strandings collected by the Portuguese and Galician stranding networks between 2000 and 2020 are indicative of a recent mortality increase in the western Iberian coast (particularly in northern Portugal). Overall, in Portugal and Galicia, individuals stranded due to confirmed fishery interaction represented 46.98% of all analysed porpoises, and individuals stranded due to probable fishery interaction represented another 10.99% of all analysed porpoises. Considering the Portuguese annual abundance estimates available between 2011 and 2015, it was possible to calculate that an annual average of 207 individuals was removed from the population in Portuguese waters alone, which largely surpasses the potential biological removal (PBR) estimates (22 porpoises, CI: 12–43) for the same period. These results are conservative and bycatch values from strandings are likely underestimated. A structured action plan accounting for new activities at sea is needed to limit the Iberian porpoise population decline. Meanwhile, there is an urgent need for a fishing effort reorganization to directly decrease porpoise mortality. |
| Document Type: | article |
| File Description: | electronic resource |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 13162632 2076-2615 |
| Relation: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/16/2632; https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2615 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/ani13162632 |
| Access URL: | https://doaj.org/article/d36d6802426a4fd39ec1e15a68c51742 |
| Accession Number: | edsdoj.36d6802426a4fd39ec1e15a68c51742 |
| Database: | Directory of Open Access Journals |
| Full text is not displayed to guests. | Login for full access. |
| ISSN: | 13162632 20762615 |
|---|---|
| DOI: | 10.3390/ani13162632 |
| Published in: | Animals |
| Language: | English |