Benke, Harald, Siebert, Ursula, Lick, Roland, Bandomir, Bettina and Weiss, Reinhard (1998) The current status of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in German waters. Archive of Fishery and Marine Research, 46 (2). pp. 97-123.

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Abstract

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is the most common cetacean in German waters. Since 1990 all strandings on German coasts, by-catches from German fishermen and incidental sightings have been recorded and examined. In addition, surveys have been conducted in specific areas. In this paper, we present data from these investigations until 1994. The distribution of dead stranded animals along the German North Sea coast clearly shows a decrease in density from north to south. The analyses of incidental sightings in the German Bight and Kiel Bight show similar results. Food analyses revealed that animals from the North and Baltic Seas differ considerably in their diet. Reproduction is seasonal, with parturition and copulation occurring in late spring and early summer. Most female porpoises become sexually mature at the age of four years and become pregnant each year thereafter. The majority of lesions found at necropsies were caused by parasites, especially in the respiratory tract. In two thirds of the cases we found various degrees of pneumonia, associated with parasites. Our findings gave no indication of an epidemic of bacterial or viral infections.

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