Harbour Porpoise

What is it: 

Harbour porpoises are the smallest cetacean in UK waters. They reach a maximum length of 1.9 m, live between 12 and 20 years and reach breeding age at 3-4 years. They have a plump body with a short blunt head, no beak and a small wide-based triangular fin in the centre of their backs. They can dive for as long as six minutes down to 220 m to forage before surfacing to take a breath. They generally occur in small groups or singly.

They are found around areas of open coast, shallow bays, estuaries, sea lochs, tidal channels and occasionally up rivers. Important calving grounds have been identified in the North Sea. Recorded in all waters around Scotland.

In addition to the layer 'Annual distribution & relative abundance of Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) (1979 - 1997)' (JNCC data) there are an additional 7 layers: 'Data layers to support 2016 SAC consultation' (based on data collected by DTU, HW&DT, JNCC, SMRU and SWF.

  1.  West Scotland Shelf analysis persistent top 10% density harbour porpoise
  2. West coast shelf analysis survey effort (1994 to 2011) for harbour porpoise modelling
  3. West coast shelf analysis model confidence for summers (1994 to 2011)
  4. West Scotland shelf analysis visual corrected harbour porpoise count data (summer 1994 to 2011)
  5. Areas of predicted high density of harbour porpoise (acoustic) (2003 - 2010)
  6. Areas of predicted high density of harbour porpoise (visual) (2003 - 2010)
  7. Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust harbour porpoise calf/ juvenile sightings

 

Links to Scotland's Marine Atlas: 
Chapter 4: Cetaceans
Data originators: 
DTU Aqua - National Institute of Aquatic Resources
Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)
Sea Watch Foundation
This information page is part of the theme: 
Cetaceans
More Information: 

Whales, dolphins and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Scottish waters over the last 25 years. Of these 11 are regularly sighted, the remaining 12 are considered to be vagrants or rare visitors.

Cetaceans are very mobile and can range widely with some undertaking large scale seasonal migrations often leaving Scottish waters in the process. Other species are more localised in their distribution. The greatest diversity of species is found off the continental shelf in waters to the north and west of Scotland.

This page was last modified on : 
Monday, October 10, 2016 - 09:58

Links and Resources

Map Type Click title for metadata and licence informationsort descending Date of data View Map
Map Layers (NMPi) Annual distribution and relative abundance of Harbour porpoise (1979 - 1997) 1979-01-01 to 1997-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Areas of predicted high density of harbour porpoise (acoustic) (2003 - 2010) 2003-01-01 to 2010-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Areas of predicted high density of harbour porpoise (visual) (2003 - 2010) 2003-01-01 to 2010-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust harbour porpoise calf/ juvenile sightings Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) West coast shelf analysis model confidence for summers (1994 to 2011) 1994-01-01 to 2011-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) West coast shelf analysis survey effort (1994 to 2011) for harbour porpoise modelling 1994-01-01 to 2011-12-31 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) West Scotland Shelf analysis persistent top 10% density harbour porpoise Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) West Scotland shelf analysis visual corrected harbour porpoise count data (summer 1994 to 2011) 1994-01-01 Access this map on NMPi
Type Link Titlesort descending External Link
Documents JNCC - Atlas of cetacean distribution in north-west European waters jncc.defra.gov.uk
Type Title External link
Web link Harbour Porpoise SAC Consultation (March 2016) www.gov.scot
Reports SNH Commissioned Report 406: Descriptions of Scottish Priority Marine Features (PMFs) www.nature.scot
Web link SNH Dolphins, Whales & Porpoises www.nature.scot
Web link Marine Scotland Cetaceans www.gov.scot
Web link JNCC - Harbour porpoise sac.jncc.gov.uk