Contact: Stina Nyström
Did you know that the harbour porpoise (Phocoena Phocoena) is one of seven species of porpoise in the world? It is the only whale residing permanently in the Baltic Sea. The unique population is listed by IUCN and HELCOM as ‘critically endangered’, with only a few hundred animals left. On the third Sunday of May each year, we celebrate the International Day of the Baltic harbour porpoise.
This celebration was introduced in 2002 by the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS). It was intended to build public awareness of the harbour porpoise population in the Baltic proper, which is threatened with extinction.
While threats to the Baltic harbour porpoise include pollution and disturbance from underwater noise, bycatch in fishing gear is the single most acute threat causing direct mortalities. The extent of the bycatch in the Baltic Sea is still largely unknown, but with so few animals left, even a single death (especially of a reproductive female) could have a devastating impact on the ability of the population to recover or even stabilize.
“Researchers say that bycatch beyond 0.7 animals per year is unsustainable.”
This year, we are asking the public to continue to spread the word on the Baltic harbour porpoise and its need for help. Share this animated film produced by WWF Sweden on Twitter and other social media, using #SaveTheBalticPorpoise!
This article is part of the WWF Baltic Newsletter – May 2021
