Incidental catch of harbor porpoises by gill nets

Total catch of Phocoena phocoena by groundfish gill nets in the SW Bay of Fundy between June-September 1986 was 105 ±10.8 animals. Porpoises are entangled while nets are on the bottom in water depths of 37-96 m. No change in porpoise density was detected between 1981-86, but an increase in length of calves and an absence of large porpoises in the recent sample have occurred since 1973, changes attributable to the gill-net fishery, which has been operating for 10-15 yr. Given the slow reproductive rate of harbor porpoises, these incidental catches seriously threaten the population. -from Authors

Duke Scholars

Author Andrew J Read Marine Science and Conservation