Abstract
During 1988, 1989 and 1995, 187 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) were sampled from the catches off West Greenland. The samples were taken in 3 areas between 62° N and 70° N: northerly (n=134, Maniitsoq and locations Kangaamiut, Qeqertarsuaq and Qasigiannguit further north), southerly (n=30, Nuuk) and southernmost (n=23, Paamiut). A suite of biological measurements and data were collected from these samples. Comparison of age and length distributions between years and areas indicated that while there were no statistical differences between the Maniitsoq and northerly samples in different years, the southerly Nuuk and Paamiut samples were biased to younger age classes. Application of the Gompertz growth model to length and weight at age data indicated an asymptotic length of 154 cm in females and 143 cm in males with weights of 64 kg and 52 kg respectively. A number of correlations were observed between length, midgirth(G3), body and blubber weights and blubber thickness. Indicators of body condition showed that overall pregnant females were fattest but that blubber thickness was greatest in juveniles. The blubber lipid content was generally 92-95% wet weight of tissue. Stomach content analysis for 92 animals indicated regional differences, although capelin (Mallotus villosus) was predominant in all samples. The presence of fish, squid and crustaceans indicated opportunistic feeding. Females ovulated from age 3-4 years at a length of about 140 cm; combined testis weights >200 g indicated maturation in males from age 2 years upwards at a length >125 cm. Several small embryos were found, consistent with a mating season in late summer. Testis hypertrophy in August also supported a late summer breeding. Analysis of ovarian corpora indicated annual ovulation. Certain biological parameters, including body condition indicators, indicate differences between WestGreenland and eastern North Atlantic populations that agree with published genetic findings.
Highlights
The harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, is among the most abundant and widespread of theNorth Atlantic cetaceans
Porpoises have been taken as bycatch, as elsewhere throughout the coastal areas bordering the North Atlantic (IWC 1996), and in West Greenland they were occasionally taken in drift netting operations for salmon
This study describes current life history and basic features of the biology of harbour porpoises from West Greenland, and makes comparisons with populations from adjacent areas
Summary
The harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, is among the most abundant and widespread of theNorth Atlantic cetaceans. Christensen and Lear (1977) estimated that 1,400 harbour porpoises were caught in the non-Greenlandic driftnet fishery for salmon in 1972. Porpoises have been taken as bycatch, as elsewhere throughout the coastal areas bordering the North Atlantic (IWC 1996), and in West Greenland they were occasionally taken in drift netting operations for salmon. The reported catches up to the early 1990’s peaked at about 1,500 animals for the whole of Greenland, but have generally remained between 500-1,000 animals per year, with an increasing trend during the 20th century (Teilman and Dietz 1998). The reported catches between 1993 and 1997 inclusive (Piniarneq 1999, 2000) totalled 8,286 with a range of 1,418 to 1,824 per year
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
