Repository logo
 
Loading...
Project Logo
Research Project

INFLUÊNCIA DE FACTORES ANTROPOGÉNICOS NA COMUNIDADE DE PEQUENOS CETÁCEOS AO LONGO DA ZONA COSTEIRA DO CENTRO DE PORTUGAL

Authors

Publications

Assessment of harbour porpoise bycatch along the Portuguese and Galician Coast: insights from strandings over two decades
Publication . Torres-Pereira, Andreia; Araújo, Hélder; Monteiro, Silvia Silva; Ferreira, Marisa; Bastos-Santos, Jorge; Sá, Sara; Nicolau, Lídia; Marçalo, Ana; Marques, Carina; Tavares, Ana Sofia; De Bonis, Myriam; Covelo, Pablo; Martínez-Cedeira, José; López, Alfredo; Sequeira, Marina; Vingada, José; Eira, Catarina
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.

Organizational Units

Description

Keywords

Contributors

Funders

Funding agency

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Funding programme

FARH

Funding Award Number

SFRH/BD/30240/2006

ID