On Friday, September 29th, the fourth 'washed-ashore-day' was held at the National Museum of Natural History, Naturalis, in Leiden. Last year, this event was organised by SRRC Lenie 't Hart. Several organisations concerned with stranded cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) in the Netherlands were represented in Leiden. Presentations were held on different subjects concerning porpoises and other cetaceans.
SRRC Lenie 't Hart, which has been researching stranded cetaceans for the last 25 years, presented the results of its most recent inquiry into the possible causes of death of stranded porpoises. SRRC's Biologist Nynke Osinga listed the different causes of death, which had been determined during autopsies on porpoises over the last 25 years.
This research concludes that there are different causes to be found for the death of stranded porpoises, such as being washed ashore whilst still alive, different diseases and injuries, but also being caught accidentally in fishing nets. This last cause especially, is receiving a lot of attention at the moment. In the research done by the SRRC, a rise in the percentage of deaths caused by fishing nets can be seen. In the last 25 years the numbers have risen from 10 to 20%. The SRRC will begin work on a follow-up research project into fishnet related deaths under porpoises this year.
25-10-2006 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
