Relation Between Stranding Mortality and Population Abundance of Smaller Cetacea in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean

The most complete and continuous series of stranding records is probably that for the British coasts, comprising 1616 strandings between 1913–72. The common or harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is most numerous (667 strandings, 41% of total), with 17 other species representing the remaining 59%. These data are related to sightings during two transatlantic yacht races, from a bird observatory off southwest Ireland, and from weather ships. The ratio of Irish sightings to strandings is at least 120:1, the ratio of sightings at weather ship stations to strandings of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melaena) is at least 150:1.