Multidisciplinary investigation of stranded Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in Washington State with an assessment of acoustic trauma as a contributory factor (2 May - 1 June 2003)

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TitleMultidisciplinary investigation of stranded Harbor Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in Washington State with an assessment of acoustic trauma as a contributory factor (2 May - 1 June 2003)
Publication TypeReport
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsNorman, S. A., S. Raverty, A. D. Pabst, D. R. Ketten, M. Fleetwood, J. K. Gaydos, B. Norberg, L. Barre, T. Cox, B. Hanson, and S. Jeffries
Document NumberNMFS-NWR-34
Pagination120
Date Published10/2004
InstitutionU.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, NMFS
CitySeattle
TypeTechnical Memorandum
Call NumberDRK6843
Keywordsharbor porpoise, haro strait, mid-range, sonar, strait of juan de fuca, stranding, uss shoup
Abstract

Observations of altered behavior of marine mammals in the area of mid-range sonar use by the naval vessel USS SHOUP in the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait on 5 May 2003, prompted the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to conduct an in-depth investigation on the causes of harbor porpoise strandings. Fifteen stranded harbor porpoises were reported during the period of 2 May 2003 to 2 June 2003, an abnormally high number when compared to the average stranding rate of 6 per year recorded over the previous decade. Eleven of the stranded harbor porpoises were collected for this investigation.