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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Per Berggren
The European Union (EU) Habitats Directive requires Member States to monitor and maintain at favourable conservation status those species identified to be in need of protection, including all cetaceans. In July 2005 we surveyed the entire EU Atlantic continental shelf to generate robust estimates of abundance for harbour porpoise and other cetacean species. The survey used line transect sampling methods and purpose built data collection equipment designed to minimise bias in estimates of abundance. Shipboard transects covered 19 725 km in sea conditions £ Beaufort 4 in an area of 1 005 743 km2. Aerial transects covered 15 802 km in good/moderate conditions (£ Beaufort 3) in an area of 364 371 km2. Thirteen cetacean species were recorded; abundance was estimated for harbour porpoise (375 358; CV= 0.20), bottlenose dolphin (16 485; CV=0.42), white-beaked dolphin (16 536; CV=0.30), short-beaked common dolphin (52 063; CV=0.25) and minke whale (18 958; CV=0.35). Abundance in 2005 was similar to that estimated in July 1994 for harbour porpoise, white-beaked dolphin and minke whale in a comparable area. However, model-based density surfaces showed a marked difference in harbour porpoise distribution between 1994 and 2005. Our results allow EU Member States to discharge their responsibilities under the Habitats Directive and inform other international organisations concerning the assessment of conservation status of cetaceans and the impact of bycatch at a large spatial scale. The lack of evidence for a change in harbour porpoise abundance in EU waters as a whole does not exclude the possibility of an impact of bycatch in some areas. Monitoring bycatch and estimation of abundance continue to be essential.
Author(s): Hammond PS, Macleod K, Berggren P, Borchers DL, Burt L, Cañadas A, Desportes G, Donovan GP, Gilles A, Gillespie G, Gordon J, Hiby L, Kuklik I, Leaper R, Lehnert K, Leopold M, Lovell P, Øien N, Paxton CGN, Ridoux V, Rogan E, Samarra F, Sheidat M, Sequeira M, Siebert U, Skov H, Swift R, Tasker ML, Teilmann J, VanCanneyt O, Vázquez JA
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Biological Conservation
Year: 2013
Volume: 164
Pages: 107-122
Print publication date: 01/08/2013
Online publication date: 11/06/2013
Acceptance date: 02/04/2013
Date deposited: 02/04/2015
ISSN (print): 0006-3207
ISSN (electronic): 1873-2917
Publisher: Elsevier
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2013.04.010
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2013.04.010
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