Trends in strandings and by-catch of marine mammals in north-west Spain during the 1990s

A. Lopez, Maria Begona Santos Vazquez, Graham John Pierce, A. F. Gonzalez, X. Valeiras, A. Guerra

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Strandings of marine mammals on the north-western Spanish coast (Galicia.) have been systematic ally recorded since 1990. A total of 1433 marine mammals belonging to 15 species was recorded front 1990 to 1999. The most frequently recorded species stranded were common dolphin (47%), bottlenose dolphin (11%) and harbour porpoise (7%). The number of strandings recorded increased annually over the study period, probably reflecting an increased observer effort. During 1996-1999, an average of 1.65 animals were stranded annually for each 10 km of coastline, the highest density of strandings recorded on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. More than 80% of the strandings were located on the western coast of Galicia, mainly in autumn and winter. During the study period, 42 proven incidental catches were recorded, although signs of by-catch were seen in a further 198 animals. The average size of stranded common dolphins and the proportion of males both increased towards the end of the calendar year.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)513-521
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
Volume82
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002

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